RESIDENTS PLEASED WITH DRUG BUSTS

LANCASTER -- Residents who have dealt with illegal drug traffic in
their neighborhoods watched law enforcement officers arrest suspected
drug dealers with hope.

Officers arrested 18 people during a daylong sweep to crack down on
suspected drug dealers in Fairfield and Hocking counties on Monday.
During some raids, residents watched with relief and a little
skepticism as officers walked suspects in handcuffs to squad cars.

On Broad Street, 55-year-old Steve Halle came over to watch with
reporters as officers unsuccessfully tried to find one of the 26
people indicted.

"We knew something was going on there. You see people going in and out
of there at all hours of the day and night," Halle said. "I don't have
children but I am a grandparent, and I think it is absolutely
wonderful that (law enforcement) are doing something."

But he also told officers that some people were moving out of the
apartment over the weekend.

Vernon Waters, 71, was visiting the Broadmoor Apartments on Broad
Street when officers were driving around the neighborhood Monday
morning. He wasn't surprised by the arrests.

"They way they are doing things today and the way drugs are
everywhere, it just doesn't surprise me," said Waters. "You could see
this area and the whole city changing. We need to get all the drugs
out of the city."

Larry Gloyd, 62, also of Broad Street and just a few doors down from
where an arrest was made, said Fairfield County has always had drugs
in the community.

But he agreed with neighbors who said they had seen more
people-traffic increasing at the home of the suspected drug dealer.

"It's been going for a couple of months," Gloyd said. "It's right
across from North School and that isn't good. It's a a good thing that
they are making the arrests."

On the west side of town, officers attempted to make an arrest on
Harrison Avenue but no one was home

But neighbors there also said they had know about the drug
traffic.

Leon Bowes, 56, and Deana Bowes 35, watched police officers from their
porch as they came through the neighborhood.

"There's a lot of stuff going around here," Leon said. "I think they
are just touching the surface with what is going on."

Added Deana, "I'm just glad to see them doing something. There have
been people coming in and going out all the time. I hope they catch
them."