3 Pit Bulls Killed, Drugs Seized, Arrests Made In Detroit Police Raid
DETROIT (WWJ) - Three dogs were killed, illegal drugs were seized, and several suspected dealers were arrested in a Detroit police narcotics blitz and warrant sweep on the city's west side.
Thursday's raid dubbed "Cherry Blossom" targeted known drug locations in a one-square-mile area near Wyoming and 8 Mile Road.
Detroit police said the first location hit Thursday, on Wyoming, was a bust; but the second home, on Pembroke, netted a bundle.
"A significant quantity of heroin, one 357 Magnum, cash, digital scale, one adult felon, three vicious pit bulls protecting the product (were put down)," said Detroit Police Lt. Charles Flanagan.
A small child around 3 years old was found in the home, which was of great concern to Police Chief James Craig.
"When you're talking about an active drug house, there's always that possibility of violence," Craig told WWJ's Vickie Thomas and other reporters. "...You know, rival drug dealers will come in, and so the child is definitely placed in harm's way."
At least 13 arrests were made in the raid, which was part of "Operation Restore Order" — an ongoing crackdown on high-crime areas in Detroit.
Craig said while he wants some of these raids to remain high-profile, with the media along to show Detroiters that police are "serious about making their community safe," he is planning future operations that will be less showy.
This time, the chief said, he believed neighbors who spotted the caravan of cop cars were on their cell phones, tipping off their criminal friends.
The names of those arrested were not immediately released.
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