By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – More than 30 officers from four law enforcement agencies were in LaPlace, Reserve and Garyville Tuesday rounding up a host of suspected drug dealers.

The officers, from St. John the Baptist, St. Charles and Assumption parishes, and troopers with the Louisiana State Police were part of a seven-month undercover operation working to get 26 mid-level drug dealers off the streets and back into jail.

“These are neighborhood dealers selling narcotics in the areas where most of them grew up,” said Sheriff Wayne Jones, who was on hand during a morning briefing with the officers just before 7 a.m. Tuesday. “Many of the warrants acquired today were secured through the help of people in those communities who are tired of the nonsense and tired of their neighborhoods being disrespected.”

Jones said Tuesday’s operation was third of its kind for narcotics agents in the parish. He said the narcotics division has been much more productive this year than in recent years.

“We’ve gotten so much more cooperation from the community, in addition to the aid we get from other agencies,” Jones said. “Their efforts and dedication are appreciated.”

Maj. Robert Hay, chief of detectives for the St. John Sheriff’s Office, said when community complaints come through the Sheriff’s Office deputies are sent out to patrol the neighborhoods in question scoping out street corners and looking at increases in traffic. After a period of monitoring undercover agents will go into the neighborhoods and work out a narcotics sale with a suspect.

“In many cases, the agent is able to get the exchange on camera,” Hay said. “Gives us something a little more concrete to work with.”

Lt. Monty Adams, a narcotics agent for the St. John Sheriff’s Office, said Tuesday’s roundup was broken down into three groups with about 10 officers on each group. The groups were deployed at the same time and sent out to specific areas of the parish to track down suspects who were home.

“We don’t have search warrants for the homes, only arrest warrants,” Adams said. “All we can do is knock on the doors and force them out if they are home.”

Adams said Tuesday’s operation involved three arrest warrants for individuals on the west bank – something he said is “not easy to get.”

“The west bank communities have such close knit people,” Adams said. “They all know each other, and they all know what is going on. Rarely do we see them sell to people they don’t recognize.”

As of press time Tuesday, those arrested in the operation were Nicholas Joseph, of 330 W. Second St., LaPlace; Dorlando Duhone, of 231 Satsuma St., LaPlace; Lloyd Johnson Jr., of 1013 Beech St., LaPlace; Brenda Babin, of 342 W. Second St., LaPlace; and Yvette Faulk, of 1105 Cardinal St., LaPlace. All were booked into the Sherman Walker Correctional Facility in LaPlace on assorted drug charges. Bond information was not available.

Hay said more arrests would be made throughout the day Tuesday. The list will be updated online at www.lobservateur.com.