Ten people were arrested in a Thursday morning drug raid that uncovered three handguns, a multitude of drugs and almost $14,000 in cash.
Members of multiple agencies raided seven apartments following a two-month investigation, which police said was helped by numerous tips from residents and guests.
Police recovered 1,050 bags of heroin, three pounds of Ecstasy, more than seven ounces of methamphetamine and 1½ ounces of cocaine.
Six of the rooms were in the troubled Madison Hotel, which had two rooms raided during a similar multi-agency investigation in January, when four people were arrested and five guns recovered.
A dog was shot by an Atlantic City SWAT team member when it charged at them when the entered an apartment in the Lighthouse Plaza, Lt. Kevin Fair said.
“The Madison Hotel is a significant nuisance located within the heart of Atlantic City’s Tourism District,” Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said. “In the past three years there have been two homicides at this location. We will not permit drug dealers to set up shop, peddle poison and otherwise interfere with the quality of life of our residents and tourists.”
The case was a joint venture involving the DEA Liberty Mid-Atlantic High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office and Atlantic City Police Department Special Investigations Section and SWAT Team.
“Our continued partnership with our law enforcement allies continues to bear fruit as more deadly guns and dangerous drugs are removed from the streets,” Atlantic City Police Interim Officer-in-Charge James Sarkos said. “We are committed to combating criminal activity and violence that will allow our community to be safer.”
The Atlantic City fire marshal was called to the Madison Hotel after officers observed numerous safety issues including fire exit doors being chained and padlocked shut.
They also found a first-floor stairwell door was locked from the outside, which would have prevented anyone from escaping through that door in case of emergency, Fair said.
The investigation was led by Atlantic City Police Detectives Will Herrerias, Nicholas Berardis and Eric Evans.
“This investigation is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the DEA Liberty Mid-Atlantic Task Force, Atlantic City PD, and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office,” Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New Jersey Division Susan Gibson said. “The combination and drugs and guns can lead to violence and death. The seizure of these items and the arrests of those in this investigation has made the Atlantic City area safer. We will continue to pursue those who seek to degrade our communities.”
Alicia Gilliard, 34, of Atlantic City; Akeem Mills, 28, of Mays Landing, and Malita Scarlett, 30, of Camden, are charged with three counts each of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute, possession of a weapon while committing a drug offense and possession of hollow-point ammunition. They also face one count of intent to distribute within 500 feet of a public zone and money laundering.
Evrod Walker, 39, of Atlantic City, was charged with two counts each of possession, possession with intent to distribute and possession within 500 feet of a public zone.
Gilliard, Mills, Scarlett and Walker were all being held in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
Anthony Bailey, 46, and Rasheed Phillips, 31, all of Atlantic City, along with Shane Calareso-Hodges, 34, of Absecon, are charged with drug possession and intent to distribute charges.
Bailey also had a contempt of court warrant.
Tyler Barrett, 28, and Michael Lombardi, 56, both of Atlantic City, were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.
Tracy Blackwell, 38, of Atlantic City, was charged with contempt.
Bailey, Phillips, Calareso-Hodges, Barrett and Blackwell were all released on summonses.
Anyone with information about the distribution of narcotics is asked to call Atlantic City police at 609-347-5858. Information may also be texted anonymously to tip411 (847411), beginning the text with ACPD.
