Delco police arrest 18 in Collingdale sweep

Delaware County law enforcement officials made 18 arrests in an early morning sweep Wednesday in and around Collingdale, seizing handguns, cocaine, and pills, and even a car that had been stolen months earlier.

The sting was the second phase of an operation, nicknamed "Operation Bulldog," designed to combat drug trafficking, said District Attorney Jack Whelan. The first phase, in September, netted about 30 arrests.

Law enforcement personnel began the operation about 6 a.m., serving search warrants on suspected drug charges as well as outstanding warrants on other offenses, including theft and failure to appear in court.

Police seized 279 bags of cocaine from a house on the 700 block of Pine Street in Darby Borough. Police found the occupant, Leroy Calbert, in bed. Inside the bedroom, police found more than 200 pills, hundreds of dollars in cash, and a 9mm semiautomatic handgun underneath Calbert's pillow, according to court documents. Police also discovered a .357 Magnum revolver and several bags of marijuana, court documents said.

While serving another search warrant on Roberta Avenue in Collingdale, police discovered a "chop shop," where suspects were dismantling stolen cars for profit, Whelan said. Police found a car stolen months ago from a local dealership that had been packed into a shipping crate; it appeared that the car was being prepared to be shipped overseas, Whelan said.

Law enforcement officials still have about 10 to 12 outstanding warrants to serve, Whelan said, but he stressed that his office would continue such crime sweeps.

"Because we're having success with these operations, we're going to continue to commit resources to it," he said. "People think it's done more for show than trying to improve the quality of the neighborhood, but the message is, we're going to be consistently doing this. It's not one and done."

Whelan said it was difficult to gauge whether the program has deterred others from committing drug crimes, but he said his office's approach to drug problems in the Collingdale and Darby areas was twofold: arrest offenders, and reach out to the community at large.

The District Attorney's Office is participating in a national prescription drug take-back program in April and is looking into installing permanent drug drop boxes in the community, Whelan said.

He said the office had been planning Wednesday's sting for months, with drug task force officers conducting undercover investigations beforehand.

Similar programs in the area have also seen success; a series of 2012 sweeps in Chester County's Coatesville called "Operation Silent Night" netted about 35 arrests and, officials there say, have cut down on homicides in the area.

All 18 people arrested have been arraigned and are awaiting preliminary hearings. Whelan said he intended to "fully prosecute" those arrested Wednesday.

"We're constantly striving to achieve enforcement of various violations," he said. "Our goal is to make this area safer but also to improve the quality of life."