Paterson police crackdown on drug activity around Barbour Park, including raiding nearby stash house
By Jonathan Greene
Published: May 25, 2021
The police arrested 11 people, seizing 1,500 packets of heroin, two handguns, raiding a stash house, in an operation targeting the open-air drug market around Barbour Park on Monday.
Police arrested three alleged drug dealers, Dathan Alston, 29, of Butler; Syrjah Alston, 25, of Paterson; Laheem Lusk, 53, of Paterson, and eight alleged buyers, Sandra Yonko, 56, of Paterson; Michael John, 31, of Paterson; Salvador Rosado, age unknown, of Paterson; Luis Sanchez, of Paterson; Anthony Mendoza, of Paterson; Cesar Montemoino, 44, of Paterson; Craig Gunset, 38, of River Edge; and George Gunset, 37, of Palisades Park.
Police charged the three drug dealers on numerous drugs and weapons offenses. The eight buyers were charged with drug possession.
Police confiscated 1,522 glassine envelopes of heroin, 93 vials of crack cocaine, 7.6 oz of marijuana, and $2,300 in suspected drug proceeds.
Police also seized two weapons, a defaced 38 caliber Taurus Brasil handgun, a 40 caliber Ruger, and 6 hollow point rounds.
Detectives set up surveillance around the park after receiving complaints of drug dealing. They identified several people dealing drugs on Fair Street. They also identified 257 Rosa Parks Boulevard, apartment 2, as a stash house for drugs. Police obtained a warrant and raided the apartment.
The eight buyers allegedly purchased the drugs from the three dealers.