York, PA - The York County Drug Task Force arrested four men and two women who they said ran a drug dealing organization that sold marijuana and cocaine throughout the county, according to a news release.
On Wednesday, task force agents used search warrants in the 600 block of East Philadelphia Street, the first block of North Hartman Street, the 300 block of West North Street, in York, and in the 1000 block of Hill Street in Spring Garden Township, to round up the suspects and seize drugs and other items, said York City Police Detective First Class Andy Shaffer.
Seized from the operation was $4,200 in cocaine, $4,500 in marijuana, 10 vials of Ketamine, $9,040 cash, 13 flat-screen televisions and numerous electronic items.
Police also seized eight vehicles: 1997 Plymouth Neon, 2006 Chevy Tahoe, 2003 GMC Yukon, 1987 Olds Cutlass, 1994 Acura Vigor, 2005 Mercedes-Benz, 1997 Dodge Caravan and a 2002 Audi.
The group sold drugs with a business-like approach, police said, working in "shifts" using a cell phone to conduct the transactions. After each person's "shift" was over, they would pass the cell phone onto another suspect who would continue to sell illegal narcotics, Shaffer said.
"They were extremely busy," Shaffer said. "Based on our information and surveillance, they were selling to 50 to 70 people a day."
The arrests were the culmination of a four-month investigation -- including numerous undercover buys and surveillance.
Shaffer said Springettsbury Township Police Officer Russ Schauer developed the sources that led to the investigation.
He said the task force's operation was named "Operation Campbell Soup" after Benji Campbell, who he called the group's "ringleader."
Arrested in the raids were:
--- Benji Campbell, 34, of the 700 block of East Clarke Avenue, York. He was charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver marijuana, one count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine and three counts of delivery of cocaine.
--- Travis Garver, 29, of the 1000 block of Hill Street, Spring Garden Township. He was charged with three counts of delivery of cocaine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
--- Chanda Garver, 30, of the 1000 block of Hill Street. She was charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
--- Horacia Walton, age 33, of the first block of North Hartman Street, York. She was charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver marijuana.
--- Jaime Sowers, 37, of the 600 block of East Philadelphia Street, York. He was charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver marijuana and one count of delivery of cocaine.
--- Jason Kivel, 30, of the 600 block of East Philadelphia Street. He was charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver Ketamine.
Springettsbury Township Police Chief David Eshbach said his department has a long-standing relationship with the drug task force, starting in 1990, when Eshbach, as an officer, was assigned to it.
Eshbach said that since then, "We've seen a very significant upswing in narcotics traffic in our area and the crime associated with it," he said. "We've been very committed to attacking this problem on all fronts."
Eshbach praised Schauer's efforts, saying the officer gleans information from a variety of sources and that "he will work that information to its fullest."
Helping in the operation was the York City Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, York Area Regional Police, Penn Township Police, West Manchester Police Department, Northeastern Regional Police, Southwestern Regional Police, Spring Garden Township Police, Newberry Township Police, Harrisburg FBI Capital City Safe Streets Task Force and the York County Sheriff's Department.
tczech@ydr.com; 771-2033.
