TAXI DRUG STINGS NETS 68 ARRESTS IN HIGH POINT, N.C., AREA

Drug dealers in High Point and Thomasville who want to do
their business while in Red Bird taxicabs have been warned:

You might get busted.

That's exactly what happened to 68 people in a four-month undercover
sting called Operation Spring Cleanup.

The High Point and Thomasville police departments teamed with Red Bird
Cab to catch drug dealers by video-taping them selling drugs to
undercover agents in taxicabs.

The two departments have arrested 68 people as the result of the sting
operation and charged them with various drug offenses. Seventeen of
those charged were arrested in a roundup of suspects that took place
March 24 in Thomasville. The remaining names of those arrested were
released Tuesday.

Another 11 suspects have not been identified from the
videotape.

During the press conference, police showed video clips from the
taxicabs.

One clip showed a woman smoking a crack pipe in the front of the cab,
while another clip showed a man selling crack with his little boy
standing right beside him.

Red Bird Cab owner Herman Mazzeo said at the press conference he hopes
drug dealers will stay away from his cabs the next time they need a
ride.

"I've lost two drivers to drug activity," Mazzeo explained. One driver
was strangled with a microphone cord in High Point two years ago, he
said.

"Ever since I got involved in the cab business in the Triad, I've been
trying to clean it up," he said. Red Bird is the only cab company in
the area that requires drug testing for its drivers, he added.

Mazzeo said he is not worried about losing business by working with
police to catch drug dealers.

"That's not going to stop the good people from calling my Red Bird
cabs," Mazzeo explained.

High Point Chief of Police Louis F. Quijas said Tuesday that
cooperation between the two departments is essential in battling the
cities' drug problems.

"This operation could not have been a success without (Thomasville
Chief of Police Larry) Murdock's cooperation," Quijas said.

Murdock, who joined Quijas at the press conference, said tips from the
community also help in arresting drug dealers.

"Community involvement is very critical," he said. Murdock said one
woman in Thomasville constantly calls him about people selling crack
cocaine in her neighborhood.

"That's the kind of information we need," he said. "Call the police as
soon as the suspicious activity happens."

Quijas said police have to make a connection with the community to
defeat crime and drugs in an area.

"There's nothing more heart-wrenching to me than when an elderly lady
can't get out of her house because of drug activity," Quijas said.
People in those situations must make police aware of the problem, he
explained.

"Our citizens want to see results. People will step up to the plate
when they know you will follow through," he said. By responding to
residents' complaints of drug activity, police earn the trust of the
community, Quijas added.

The following people have been arrested or are pending arrest by High
Point and Thomasville police in relations to Operation Spring Cleanup.
They have been charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver
crack cocaine and sale and delivery of crack cocaine:

High Point

Forrest Leon Quick, 24, Kennedy Avenue; Walter Devon Pouncy, 16,
Meredith Street; Terry Dwayne Douglas, 37, Wesley Avenue; Jody
Jermaine Byers, 20, Ashburn Street; Arthur Lamont Hunter, 30, Radford
Avenue; Patrick Eugene Thomas, 20, Meredith Street; Carolyn Dawn Hunt,
20, Cross Street, also charged with obtaining property by false
pretense; Katina Lavonne Thacker, 19, Briggs Place; Avent Lee
Sturdivant, 18, Windley Street; Richard Carson Robbins, 50, Richland
Street; Dwight Eugene Harp, 37, White Oak Street, also charged with
attempting to sell and deliver crack cocaine; Pamela Palshott Riggins,
27, E. Russell Avenue; Melissa Deann Blocker, 31, Vail Street;
Franklin Junior White, 18, Worth Street; Julius Kevin Edwards, 40,
Graves Street; Timothy Lamont Scott, 28, Blair Street, also charged
with sale and deliviery of a counterfeit controlled substance; Debbie
Dixon Williams, 33, E. Green Drive; Iris Janelle Johnson, 38, Wickham
Avenue; Malachia Alie Jones, 22, Cummins Street; Lakisha Princess
Sturgues, 19, Brentwood Street, also charged with conspiracy to sell
and deliver crack cocaine; Larry Donnell Barr, 31, South Road, also
charged with conspiracy to sell and deliver crack cocaine.

Thomasville

Chavis Evans, James Avenue; Derrick Hines, Carroll Street; Derek
Wilson, Church Street; Jermain Burton, Black Street; Evan Aderhold,
Budget Inn; James E. Alford, East Street; Wallace Burnside, address
unknown; Legrant Flippen, Pineywood Drive; Janet Jones, Virginia
Avenue; Sheneda Love, Church Street; Derek Pearson, Ensley Street;
Benjemin Skeen, Small Street, also charged with conspiracy to sell and
deliver cocaine; Oliver Steele, Fifth Avenue; Marlon Tripp, Church
Street.

Other High Point charges:

Mitchell Lee Martin, 28, Pickett Place, sale and delivery of a
counterfeit controlled substance; Anthony Donald Montgomery, 34,
Hilltop Street, obtaining property by false pretense; Tory Lamont
Ellis, 19, Oberlin Drive, conspiracy to sell and deliver crack
cocaine; Jerry Lavelle Crawford, Carter Street, 34, attempt to sell
and deliver crack cocaine; Perry Lawrence McQueen, 34, Cable Street,
obtaining property by false pretense; Melvin Parker, 23, Laura Street
in Bennettsville, S.C., possession with intent to sell and deliver
crack cocaine.

Other Thomasville charges:

William Little, Church Street, attempt to sell and deliver crack
cocaine; Kenneth Rainey, Carroll Street, larceny.