Three men were arrested last night and charged with multiple narcotics offenses after a raid in the 1300 block of N. Fulton Ave. by members of the city police Violent Crimes Task Force.
The house at 1338 N. Fulton Ave. is in one of the city's many drug-trafficking target areas and was equipped with a closed-circuit TV camera that scanned the front of the house and transmitted images of anyone at the front door onto a screen in the kitchen of the first-floor apartment, said Sgt. Timothy Devine, a task force leader.
"I've never seen anything like that before," Sergeant Devine said.
Arrested and charged with possession of narcotics and possession of narcotic paraphernalia with intent to distribute and possession of deadly weapons while intending to distribute narcotics are the following: Joseph Neal, 38, a resident of the raided house; Frederick Boykin, 29, of the 100 block of Warshire Court, Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, and Barron McCree, 22, of the 600 block of N. Fulton Ave.
All three were held overnight at the Western District lockup pending
a bail hearing today before a District Court commissioner.
Sergeant Devine said the men were arrested after attempting to flee out of a back door.
Acting on a search and seizure warrant, police seized the camera and monitor, more than 30 plastic vials containing cocaine valued at more than $600 on the street, two small plastic bags of marijuana and three portable telephones.
Also seized was a police scanner set on the Western District frequency, two 2-way radios, a loaded .22 caliber handgun, a loaded semi-automatic handgun, a loaded 12-gauge shotgun, a large quantity of drug packaging material and nearly $500.
As police attempted to enter the house by force late last night, the three suspects ran out a back door and were nabbed by waiting police.
No injuries were reported.
Sergeant Devine said the raid was a direct result of police receiving information about drug activities going on at the house from concerned citizens several weeks ago.
"The information," said Sergeant Devine, "led to police making undercover purchases of drugs and the eventual issuing of the warrants."