POLICE DRUG CRACKDOWN NETS 28 SUSPECTS IN BRIDGELAND

Arrests Result of Resident Complaints

Twenty-eight people were rounded up in a crackdown on drug dealing in
Bridgeland, police announced Thursday.

After getting complaints from residents about overt and covert drug
sales, police say they focused on the inner-city community between
April 11 and May 19.

During the sweep, police charged 28 people with 80 charges -most
related to dealing marijuana or cocaine, but also robbery, possession
of property obtained by crime and being at large -and wrote 82
summonses for social disorder crimes like public drunkenness.

Community association president Stephanie Felker said residents had
had enough.

"I think they're frustrated. I don't think there's an overall sense of
fear. We live in the neighbourhood and we love our neighbourhood. We
want to see it grow and prosper," said Felker.

She described the crackdown as "fantastic."

"We've been worried about crime for quite some time."

Resident Gareth Lukes, who also owns Lukes Drug Mart, said drug
dealers weren't even hiding their activities.

"The biggest problem was the drug dealing out in the open in the
neighbourhood. We started seeing it in a lot higher frequency in the
last year or so," said Lukes.

Sgt. Timothy Fitzgibbon said police received numerous complaints from
residents, business owners and Crime Stoppers.

"We encourage any citizen if you have a concern in your community, if
you think there is something going on in a house. Generally speaking,
our gut feelings are pretty good," said Fitzgibbon.

"We make every effort to investigate all the leads that we
get."

Lukes said in the last week the drug activity in the neighbourhood has
slowed.

"There's a sense of relief and a sense of hesitation. We had one of
these a couple of years ago and it really helped a lot, but we're
hoping this time it will last."