Joe Eaton
Copyright 2006 The Roanoke Times
All Rights Reserved
Police in Radford and Pulaski County are searching for about 40 people indicted on drug charges after a weekend sweep of accused crack cocaine dealers brought in 50 suspects.
Sgt. Mike Conroy of the Virginia State Police said 90 residents of Radford and Pulaski County were indicted on more than 200 drug-related charges stemming from a one-year Pulaski-Radford Regional Drug Task Force investigation.
By Tuesday, police had arrested about 50 people and continued to look for the rest, Conroy said.
Most of the charges were related to distribution of crack cocaine, Conroy said, adding that it is the most popular drug in the area. In addition, Conroy said some were charged with distributing marijuana and methamphetamine.
The sweep began early Saturday and was planned that way because police thought dealers would have more drugs and cash during the weekend.
In addition to drugs seized, police also gathered up $3,000, Conroy said.
As for the people still at large, Conroy was confident they will be captured.
“Drug dealers don’t provide us with the most accurate information as far as addresses,” he said. “We expect to find them all. It’s just a matter of time.”
The task force is made up of agents from police departments in Dublin, Pulaski, Radford, the Virginia State Police, the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office and the commonwealth’s attorneys of Pulaski County and Radford.
-- Joe Eaton
March 23, 2006