Second Safest City Blog

25 people, including a 68-year-old man, were arrested in early-morning raids on an apartment complex and senior-citizen facility located in Nyack. Police used wiretaps and video surveillance to collect the information on the group, apparently known as the “Building 3 Crew”, who were ultimately found in possession of large amounts of drugs, money, and guns. Granted, this occurred in Nyack, but we in the neighboring second safest city are certainly glad that a geographic boundary on a map sets us apart from these thugs. We especially look forward to see how justice is served in these 25 cases, since apparently a number of them have prior arrests.

Update 11-Apr-2008: the number of indictments associated with this drug bust has risen to 27. The bust also garnered the praise of the DEA, who released more details about the bust in their press release. According to the press release, the operation resulted in the seizure of an impressive cache of drugs and guns: 4 kilograms of heroin, 10 decks of heroin, 3 ½ kilograms of cocaine, scales and drug packaging material, a .25 Caliber Beretta handgun, $31,000 of US Currency, 5 handguns, handcuffs, bullet proof vests and ammunition. Sounds like a pretty serious operation. Again, it’s a good thing we have the mall as a buffer between Nyack and the second safest city.

State Police arrested two Montgomery County residents following a traffic stop on the Thruway in the town of Clarkstown when drugs with a street value of $2,000 were found in their vehicle. Police charged Raymond Mojica, 26, of Canajoharie and Sybil Barber, 32, of Fort Plain, with possession of a controlled substance in the third degree and unlawful possession of marijuana. Mojica also faces a charge of driving while ability impaired by drugs, and Barber was also charged with drug possession in the seventh degree for possessing medications without a prescription.  In total, police found 24 grams of cocaine, 16 grams of marijuana and tablets of prescription medications Diazepam and Vicodin in the car.

Three Schenectady men, James Charvis, 39, Peniel Pope, 21, and Shennal Charvis, 30, were arrested Friday night by New York State Police after they were stopped for speeding while on the Thruway passing through Clarkstown. Officers smelled burned marijuana in the car and brought in K-9 Robbie and his handler. They found some marijuana and 6.3 ounces of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $7,000, in a bag inside the vehicle.