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DeKALB – The board, titled "2012 Operation Safe Streets," was covered with more than two dozen mugshots Thursday morning in the investigations area of the DeKalb Police Department.
By midday, half of the photos were labeled "arrested." Authorities crossed off names as area law enforcement officers conducted a drug sweep after a monthslong investigation that led to the issuance of 30 warrants for people wanted on drug-related charges.
Twenty-two people had been arrested as of Thursday afternoon; more arrests are expected. Of 30 warrants issued, eight people remained wanted by police. Detectives and officers with the DeKalb Police Department, Sycamore Police Department and DeKalb County Sheriff's Office worked together Thursday in executing the warrants.
DeKalb Police Lt. Gary Spangler said the arrests were the culmination of six months of drug investigations conducted primarily by DeKalb Police with some assistance from DeKalb County sheriff's deputies.
DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen said investigators recovered drugs, money and two firearms. He also said three of the 30 people are Northern Illinois University students; eight are known gang members.
Feithen said many of the investigations came on the tail of arrests made during a December 2010 drug sweep. Although the amount of drugs seized has been small, the crimes are serious, he said.
A few warrants were issued for people already being held in the county jail. Those charged included young and old, male and female, sellers and possessors of drugs. Drugs involved included crack, cocaine, marijuana, prescription medication and heroin. All targets were identified through controlled drug buys, Spangler said.
Sweep was 'above and beyond' normal workload
While the arrests were announced at a 3:30 p.m. news conference, the sweep started much earlier in the day.
At 8 a.m. Thursday, officers and investigators gathered in city council chambers of the DeKalb Municipal Building to go over the plan. Spangler stressed that the safety of officers was paramount while making arrests. He reminded them not to let their guard down on scene or in the booking area because there is always risk involved when making such arrests.
"We even increased our chances just by the sheer number of people we're going to arrest [Thursday]," Spangler told law enforcement personnel at the morning briefing.
About 20 investigators broke into groups of four or five and began leaving the police department about 8:30 a.m.; the first arrests were made before 9 a.m. Once suspects were arrested, they were brought to the DeKalb Police Department or the DeKalb County Jail for booking.
DeKalb Police Sgt. Jason Leverton said teams had files on each person being arrested, including information on whether the suspects were prone to carrying weapons or drugs on them or whether they tend to fight or resist police.
As they prepared to arrest one DeKalb man, a couple of officers approached the front door of a home; another walked around to the back; a fourth hung back on the front lawn, waiting until contact was made with the man.
Once the man was handcuffed and placed in a police car, investigators searched his home and a vehicle in front of the house – something officers had been advised during the briefing to do.
"We want money, we want drugs, we want guns," Detective Sgt. Bob Redel told police during the briefing. Feithen said charges are pending in some cases.
Spangler told officers drug sweeps such as Thursday's allow the public to see police are working to address the drug problem in the area.
"But I'm telling you right now, we cannot keep up this pace," Spangler said during the morning briefing.
Such work is above and beyond the normal workload, he said. Just 20 days were devoted to drug investigations last year.
Plus, 30 arrests are a small part of the drug activity occurring in the area, he said.
Particular days are dedicated to drug work to ensure it's not pushed aside, Spangler said. Several hours can be spent investigating drug cases with nothing to show from it, and cases can take several months to work. Making multiple arrests at one time through a large operation is more efficient and registers more of an impact within the community, he said.
Feithen said community tips led to some of the arrests.
During the morning briefing, Feithen echoed Spangler's sentiments, encouraging officers to be safe.
"What a great way to leave DeKalb," said Feithen, whose last day is today, as he stood up and addressed the group.
He told police they need to press city officials on increasing staff levels so crime continues to be addressed.
"That'll be a torch that the incoming chief will have to continue to carry," Feithen said.
Thursday's sweep demonstrates local law enforcement goes after drug dealers and gang members with the goal of ridding the community of such criminal activity, he said.
"This effort [Thursday] sends a strong message that we're committed to that," Feithen said.
Spangler said the sweep couldn't have been conducted without support from the DeKalb County State's Attorney's Office, which approves charges for each arrest.
State's Attorney Clay Campbell emphasized the importance of officers remaining safe on the job. He thanked police for their efforts and said his office will work to ensure cases are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Arrests made
Ryan Allen, 21, of Algonquin
• possession of marijuana with intent to deliver
• possession of marijuana
• possession of drug paraphernalia
Bond: $10,000
Deontaye L. Bradley, 20, of DeKalb
• possession of marijuana
Bond: $25,000
Scott Brantner, 19, of DeKalb
• conspiracy to deliver controlled substance
Bond: $75,000
Stephon Craig, 25, of DeKalb
• two counts of delivery of a controlled substance
• two counts of delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school
• two counts of possession of a controlled substance
• two counts of possession of marijuana
• four counts of delivery of marijuana
Bond: $100,000
Jessica Dunkin, 26, of DeKalb
• delivery of a controlled substance
• delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a parkSFlbBond: $100,000
Joshua D. Gade, 29, of Sycamore
• two counts of delivery of a controlled substance
• possession of a controlled substance
Bond: $10,000
William George, 22, of DeKalb
• delivery of a controlled substance
• delivery of marijuana
• possession of marijuana
• delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school
Bond: $5,000
Shirley Gunn, 54, of DeKalb
• two counts of delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school
• two counts of unlawful criminal drug conspiracy
• two counts of delivery of a controlled substance
Bond: $75,000
Corey Lindo, 18, of DeKalb
• two counts of delivery of marijuana
• possession of marijuana
Bond: $3,000
Steven A. Meyers, 40, of Sycamore
• possession of a controlled substance
• possession of drug paraphernalia
• obstructing justice
Bond: $5,000
Trisdon N. Noplos, 28, of Sycamore
• delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a park
• delivery of a controlled substance
Bond: $75,000
Chester Protano, 80, of DeKalb
• two counts of delivery of a controlled substance
• two counts of delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school
Bond: $10,000
Steven Ragsdale, 38, of DeKalb
• delivery of a controlled substance
• possession of a controlled substance
• delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a park
Bond: $ 250,000
Cody R. Sahs, 27, of DeKalb
• possession of drug paraphernalia
Bond: $1,000
Marquise Scott, 27, of DeKalb
• three counts of delivery of a controlled substance
• three counts of delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a park
• possession of a controlled substance
Bond: $100,000
Jeff Smythe, 21, of DeKalb
• delivery of marijuana
• possession of marijuana
Bond: $1,000
Johnathan Tyler, 27, of DeKalb
• possession of marijuana
Bond: $25,000
Reginald Turner, 38, of DeKalb
• three counts of delivery of a controlled substance
within 1,000 feet of a park
• three counts of delivery of a controlled substance
Bond: $100,000
Edward Urbano, 28, of DeKalb
• delivery of a controlled substance
• delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church
Bond: $2,000
Laquan Walker, 24, of DeKalb
• two counts of delivery of a controlled substance
• two counts of delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church
Bond: $125,000
Charles Williams, 28, of DeKalb
• possession of a controlled substance
Bond: $50,000
Matthew N. Zamudio, 18, of DeKalb
• delivery of marijuana
• possession of marijuana
Bond: $1,000
Suspects who were not located and remain wanted
Haley Brink, 19, of DeKalb
• two counts of delivery of a controlled substance
• two counts of delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school
• two counts of possession of a controlled substance
Bond: $100,000
Darryl Dandridge, 28, of Chicago
• two counts of delivery of a controlled substance
• two counts of delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school
• possession of a controlled substance
Bond: $100,000
Reonte Dean, 24, of Aurora
• delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a park
• delivery of a controlled substance
Bond: $100,000
Melissa Gustafson, 30, of DeKalb
• possession of a controlled substance
• possession of drug paraphernalia
Bond: $50,000
Linden Hope, 24, of DeKalb
• possession of a controlled substance
• possession of marijuana with intent to deliver
• possession of marijuana
• criminal trespass
• possession of drug paraphernalia
• possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver within 1,000 feet of a school
• possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver
Bond: $100,000
Christopher Lawal, 21, of DeKalb
• delivery of marijuana
Bond: $20,000
Willis Rainey, 43, of DeKalb
• attempted possession of a controlled substance
Bond: $5,000
Martin Valenzuela, 46, of DeKalb
• three counts of delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a park
• two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance
• possession of a controlled substance
Bond: $250,000