Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 12, 2005 Donna Woodson, 45, was arrested Monday on suspicion of selling crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school � also next door to Addictions Recovery Center on West Main Street. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Crack sweep nets 22 The arrest of a suspected drug ring Monday comes after two months of undercover work By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune Hands cuffed under a muddy gray windbreaker, the woman ducked into a police patrol car under the eyes of a small audience. A neighbor boy munched graham crackers while peering from his home’s front windows. Two toddlers tried to outrun their mother on the rain-slick sidewalk. In this apartment next to a drug- treatment clinic, across from a private Christian school and a community family center, Donna Woodson was charged with selling crack cocaine. Police arrested Woodson and 21 others early Monday morning in a citywide sting targeting the street sales of crack cocaine, many within sight of a school. The illegal stimulant is by no means the local drug of choice, but its easy availability prompted Medford police to take action. "It was an eye-opener," said Medford police Lt. Tim George, "that availability has now bled its way up to the Medford area." The suspects form a loosely connected drug trafficking ring that has roots in larger metroareas, George said. Some of those arrested Monday travel back and forth between Medford and cities like Portland, Seattle and San Francisco with crack, he said. Advertisement One arrest involving the police SWAT team briefly blocked traffic on South Columbus Avenue at about 7:15 a.m. Officials said they believed Merle Anthony Lemotte, Antoine Ray Smith and Myrtle Jean Smith had weapons at their apartment in the 500 block of South Columbus Avenue. However, no weapons were found. Working under cover for the past two months, officers carried out most drug deals in the city center around Central Avenue, and Main and Jackson streets, said George. Others were arranged near the Medford Center and off Cedar Links Drive. One suspect, Rhonghea R. Parker, was apprehended in Ashland with about 8 grams of marble-sized hits of crack worth about $800 on the street, George said. Fifteen suspects face charges of selling crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school. Investigators purchased drugs near New Dimensions Christian School, Sacred Heart School, Grace Christian School and CrossRoads School. One alleged sale took place on Royal Court, in the block between Grace Christian and the state’s child welfare office. "All schools have had to tighten their safety policies just because our culture is changing," said Melissa Stiles, spokeswoman for Grace Christian, adding that the school’s campus is closely monitored and enclosed by locked fences. "It could happen anywhere in the city." Sacred Heart Principal Patrick Reeder agrees. His school has thrived in its downtown location for more than 100 years. "It’s more of a social problem than a neighborhood issue," Reeder said. Police hope to stamp out the drug before it gains a local foothold as methamphetamine has in the past two decades, said Medford police Lt. Mike Moran. Because crack is highly addictive, costs more than meth and has a relatively short "high," it can lead to a faster increase in violence and theft than other drugs, Moran said. "There’s more of a need to get the fix and to pay for it," Moran said. Thirteen of the 22 suspects have a criminal record in Jackson County. Nine of those have been convicted of prior drug charges. Three currently are on probation for possessing cocaine. One man, Larry Joe Duffie, already has served prison time for delivering crack within 1,000 feet of a school. The number of crack addicts has not reached a significant level, according to some local treatment statistics. No clients are seeking help specifically for crack addiction at OnTrack Inc., which provides the majority of court-ordered treatment services, said Director Rita Sullivan. Even during a nationwide outcry over "crack babies" born to addicted mothers more than a decade ago, the drug was never prevalent in Medford, Sullivan said. Medford police previously uncovered cocaine in its powder form during the 1980s and early ’90s. But they had never seen significant quantities of the smokable rock form known as "crack" until this year, George said. "We jumped at the chance to put a dent in it," George said. "You don’t want crack cocaine in your city." Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] List of the 22 people who were arrested Monday Medford police Monday arrested 22 people out of 26 targeted on suspicion of selling crack cocaine, with many of the transactions near a school. Antoine R. Coleman, 36, of the 900 block of Royal Court, was arrested on a warrant charging him with delivering crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of CrossRoads school. Wilbert Ronald Crawley, 33, no address listed, was arrested on a warrant charging him with delivering crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of CrossRoads school. Joseph William Desalles, 26, of the 700 block of Crater Lake Avenue was arrested on a warrant charging him with delivering crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of CrossRoads school. Michael Alan Guinn Jr., 20, of the 1500 block of Kings Highway was arrested on a warrant charging him with delivering crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of CrossRoads school. Larry Dean Harper, 54, was arrested on a warrant charging him with delivering crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of CrossRoads and Sacred Heart schools. Merle Anthony LeMotte, 50, was arrested on a warrant charging him with delivering crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of CrossRoads and Sacred Heart schools. William Frederick Nash, 20, was arrested on a warrant charging him with delivering crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of CrossRoads school. Barry Leon Phipps, 51, was arrested on a warrant charging him with delivering crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of CrossRoads and Sacred Heart schools. Antoine Ray Smith, 34, was arrested on a warrant charging him with delivering crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of CrossRoads and Sacred Heart schools. Myrtle Jean Smith, 52, was arrested on a warrant charging her with delivering crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of CrossRoads and Sacred Heart schools. Jeffrey Steven Walker, 53, was arrested on a warrant charging him with delivering crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of Grace Christian and New Dimensions schools. Donna Alberta Woodson, 45, was arrested on a warrant charging her with two counts of delivering crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of New Dimensions school. Larry Joe Duffie, 46, was arrested on a warrant charging him with delivering crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of New Dimensions school. David Maurice Haselrig, 50, was arrested on a warrant charging him with delivering crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of New Dimensions school. Police also arrested Donald Edward Johnson, 48, Rhonghea R. Parker, 33, Tawni Delane Peterman, 33, Lori Lee Prasad, 40, Nolan Robinson, 48, Bradley Phillip Smith, 35, Kimberly L. Webber, 20, Kennard Williams, 52, on warrants charging them with delivering crack cocaine. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s