14 arrested in narcotics crackdown

Drugs, guns and alligators - oh, my!

City narcotics cops had that kind of a night on Wednesday when they arrested a suspected drug dealer and found an assortment of firearms, pills and pot in his West Philadelphia home - and a toothy reptilian pet to boot.

The West Philly bust was just a highlight in a series of citywide crackdowns that began early Wednesday and ended yesterday afternoon with a total of 14 arrests and the seizure of 16 guns from suspected drug dealers, said Narcotics Lt. Michael Mitchell.

The arrests occurred in several of the nine notoriously violent police districts that were targeted in Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey's crime plan, Mitchell noted.

The quirkiest bust occurred late Wednesday evening, when undercover narcotics cops made a drug purchase from Mike Smith, 38, and got a search warrant for his property on 43rd Street near Westminster Avenue, police said.

Once inside, investigators found four handguns, 62 grams of marijuana, four grams of cocaine, 8 ounces of codeine syrup, 56 pills, drug paraphernalia, $174 and the aforementioned alligator.

"Some dealers like to collect exotic pets," Miller said. "It's like a status symbol."

Smith was subsequently charged with possession of narcotics with intent to deliver, firearms violations and related offenses.

Police said the arrested include:

* Shirley Holt, 23, and Eliezer Gonzales, 28, who were arrested on Frankford Avenue near Clearfield Street, where 35 grams of cocaine and $1,015 was seized.

* Darryl Jones, 47, Charles Turner, 34, and Diane Robinson, 58, who were apprehended on Arch Street near 57th, where police confiscated 6.5 grams of cocaine, two handguns and $128.

* Darren Stevens, 38, who was apprehended near Queen and Wakefield streets while carrying a handgun.

* William Andrews, 35, and Kevin Collins, 26, who were arrested on Woolston Street near Wyncote Avenue while carrying 64 grams of coke and three handguns.

* Kareem Williams, 24, who was busted on Reed Street near 27th while possessing 12 grams of coke, 16 grams of pot and $786.

* Jordon Allen, 19, and Aquill Dorn, 20, arrested on Stafford Street near Musgrave, where police confiscated two handguns.

* Bryan John, 18, busted on Price Street near Crittenden, carrying one handgun.

* Two unidentified men, arrested on 17th Street near Wharton, where police confiscated three handguns, and an unknown amount of marijuana and crack cocaine. *