AN ALLEGED DRUG AND PROSTITUTION RING BUSTED IN ERIE'S LITTLE ITALY NEIGHBORHOOD
The Erie Metro SWAT Team raided a 2-story flat in the Little Italy neighborhood around 6 a.m. Wednesday morning.
Their investigation has led them to believe that both drug dealing and prostitution were taking place at 1913 Liberty Street for at least two to three months.
Erie Police say it was a one stop shop where customers would buy crack cocaine and have sex with prostitutes before and after smoking the drug.
One neighbor tells us the 2-story flat saw steady foot traffic at all hours of the day. He also witnessed Wednesday's raid.
"There's been a lot of rumors going around lately you know about what's going on here..drugs, prostitution and so forth coming out of this house," said neighbor, [name].
During the raid, SWAT team members confiscated numerous drug-related items, including $1500 worth of crack cocaine, more than $5000 in cash, and two handguns, one of which was a 380 caliber handgun; the other, a pellet gun.
All four residents of the 2-story flat were arrested.
54-year-old [male] has been charged with possessing drugs with the intent to deliver and possessing a stolen handgun.
42-year-old [male] faces criminal conspiracy and drug paraphenalia charges.
Those same charges were also filed against 24-year-old [male].
31-year-old [female] was arrested, but has since been released pending further investigation. [Of blowing a cop]
"It's a very active area. It's a Weed and Seed target zone, which we work with the District Attorney on. I'd like to mention that his county detectives had a part in the raid," said Erie Police Chief Charles Bowers. "Also, there is a very strong crime watch." [if you also count the dozen cats that one of the members brings with, plus all their imaginative police wannabe handles]