Darby raids result in dozens of arrests, block party

Federal and local law enforcement swept Darby Borough's troubled Third Ward North early Thursday in a raid that netted more than 40 arrests - ranging from drug charges to traffic warrants - and culminated in a block party for neighbors to celebrate.

Authorities were satisfied that federal indictments for 12 men - ages 20 to 30 - had an impact on the group that calls itself the Third Street Boys Crack Cocaine Organization. In indictments that lay out federal drug and conspiracy charges, the U.S. Attorney's office accused the men of dealing cocaine from 2007 through this year.

The "violent gang of crack cocaine traffickers," U.S. Attorney Zane Memeger said, sometimes used children as young as 12 to move cocaine. One Darby Borough resident, who gang members thought was cooperating with police, was shot and wounded June 7, according to the indictment filed Thursday.

Drug dealers "shot the family member of a resident who complained about their narcotics trafficking actitivies and threatened to report them to law enforcement," according to the indictment. No one has yet been charged with that shooting.

"It's a small town and we had real problems there," Darby Borough Police Chief Robert F. Smythe told a press conference in the U.S. Attorney's office at 6th and Chestnut Streets. "People were afraid to walk up and down the block."

Arrested on federal charges were Allen Watters, 29, Yeadon; Reginald Brown, 30, Philadelphia; Kurtis Martin, 22, Claymont, Delaware; and, from Darby Borough - Jabaar McCray, 28, Kile Lowman, 27, Wendell Parks, 29, Tracey Serrano, 22, Jamaal Burton, 27, Jameel Burton, 27, Steven Jonque, 19, Emanuel Rogers, 19, and Gregory Graham, 26.

In the last 17 months, prior to the sweep Thursday, more than 220 people had been arrested on drug and violence charges in and around the Third Street area, or about 13 a month, Smythe said.

Investigative work is ongoing, even with the indictments Thursday, said John J. Bryfonski, the DEA Special Agent-in-Charge for Philadelphia. "This is just a culmination of this phase."

Officials declined to estimate the volume or value of the drugs sold.

The arrests began at 6 a.m. said Lt. Darrell Guy of Darby Borough Police, and residents witnessed a show of force.

"It was like everybody - DEA, ATF, six police departments' helicopters - everybody was out here," said Safiyah Yameyaogo, 50, who lives on North Third Street. The block, she said, has a reputation for drugs and shootings.

Around 10 a.m., residents saw picnic canopies raised on the unit block of Third Street as officials explained the motive for the raid and invited folks to a noontime block party.

"This operation was directed toward a segment of individuals in the town who constantly violated laws at the federal, state and local levels, which impacted our town negatively." Smythe wrote in a letter that was distributed door to door.

"Once we complete the operation it will be our pleasure to invite all law-abiding citizens who cherish faith and positive neighborhoods to the fellowship barbecue picnic. . ."

More than 60 adults and children welcomed the chance too cool off in the spray of a firehose. And neighbors enjoyed refreshing lemonade along with hotdogs and hamburgers grilled by police and borough officials. At the same time, workers were busy hauling away abandoned cars, cleaning garbage off streets and alleys, and triming weeds.

Dahmir Adams-Moore, 13, thought the idea of the party on a hot day was "nice," the sprinkler "cool and refreshing" and the food "good."

But, he was taking a wait-and-see before deciding whether the sweep would change the violence he has seen in his neighborhood.

Third Street, Mayor Helen Thomas said, was a big problem. Drugs, shootings, fights.

"We are just tired of it," she said. "We are making a statement right now. Period. We are not going anywhere, we are staying right here."

Thomas hopes to make more of a statement to the community when, in a few weeks, a new recreation center is opened at 1020 Ridge Ave. She says it will offer programs for adults, teens and adults.

That opening can't come soon enough for residents.

"Last year, a guy got shot on my steps," said Michael Lowman, 31, who Thursday just stepped out of the water with his toddler son, David. Isaiah McLendon, 21, had just left his house after a visit when he was killed in September, Lowman said.

A teddy bear memorial still is wrapped around a phone pole next to where police parked the grill for the cookout. The party shows that the police do care about the community, Lowman said.

"It is not like they just came and locked everyone up and then left," he said. "This was a nice surprise."