THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 27, 1996 TAG: 9602270390
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
Elizabeth City police officers spent their Friday and Saturday nights selling cocaine last week.
Then they arrested the buyers.
In all, 26 people were arrested over two nights in the city's first ``reversal'' operation, a sting in which undercover officers do the selling, instead of the traditional buying.
The reversal attacks the drug problem from a new angle, officials said.
``We needed to start getting the users,'' said Lt. Joe Tade, who oversaw the operation. ``You decrease the demand and the supply will suffer.''
Three undercover officers worked each night, selling $20 rocks of cocaine, Tade said. They were supported by more than a dozen officers strategically placed to make arrests or assigned to handle processing paperwork.
Friday's operation targeted the corner of Bell and Harney streets, Tade said. Saturday's was based at Speed and South Road streets.
A surveillance van videotaped the transactions, and nearby officers stood ready to pounce on buyers shortly after they left the intersection.
``When they pulled away, we were on them within probably 15 or 20 seconds of making the buy,'' Tade said.
The arrests covered charges including possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver and sell marijuana, resisting arrest, and maintaining a vehicle for controlled substance use, Tade said.
Twelve automobiles were impounded during the operation.
``Anyone who came up and made a purchase - their car was also seized,'' Tade said.
The weekend operation was one of several major initiatives in the past year to put a dent in Elizabeth City's drug traffic, which police blame for much of the crime that occurs in the city. by CNB