Search continues in Mount Olive sting
By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on October 8, 2007 1:45 PM
MOUNT OLIVE -- Police are still searching for three suspects tied to drug possession, manufacturing and sales charges, two days after five others were arrested as part of Operation Clean Streets.
Mount Olive and Goldsboro police officers joined with agents from the DEA and ATF and Duplin and Wayne County sheriff's deputies Friday to conduct raids on three residencies tied to the illegal drug trade in town.
Mount Olive police Chief Ralph Schroeder said among the most "notorious" of those arrested during the Friday afternoon operation were Delete LeCharles Vann, 31; Rahean Lamar Robinson, 20; Rickey Terrell Thomas Ward, 24; Alexander Solshinisky Suncin, 21; and Gladys Strickland, 58.
All are currently being held in Wayne County Jail.
Those still at large include Travis Lemont Barksdale, 28, Danielle Duboris Vann, 26, and Robert Thomas Edwards, 19.
Barksdale is a black male, believed to be operating a four-door Cadillac. Officials suspect he might be in possession of cocaine and armed.
Edwards and Vann also are black males.
Schroeder said those with information on the whereabouts of Barksdale, Vann or Edwards are asked to call the Mount Olive Police Department at 658-5031 or Crime Stoppers at 735-2255.
Operation Clean Streets marked the culmination of a more than four-month investigation in which undercover work and surveillance were used to confirm the possession, manufacture and sale of crack and cocaine.
Mount Olive Detective Sgt. C.J. Williams said the investigation began after a "patrol corporal worked information out of an informant."
Schroeder said the raids delivered a blow to the illegal drug trade in town -- one he feels is linked to recent homicides and thefts in the area.