East Precinct officers, with the assistance of ATF agents and deputy U.S. marshals, today arrested 18 persons as part of a year-long investigation targeting street-level crack cocaine dealers. All of the suspects charged sold crack to undercover police operatives in the 800 block of North 2nd Street. The transactions were videotaped.
“Enough is enough, and its time for this section of North 2nd Street to shed its reputation as an open-air drug market,” Chief Ronal Serpas said.
Arrested today on sealed grand jury indictments charging the sale of cocaine are:
Arrested today on warrants charging the sale of cocaine are:
Arrested today on a warrant charging the sale of counterfeit cocaine is Shelmika Summers, 29, of N. 2nd Street.
Shelmika Summers
The seven-member East Precinct Crime Suppression Unit headed by Sergeant Chuck Rutzky conducted this investigation on various days and times over the past year. Their outstanding work led to the indictments and arrest warrants.
Five additional persons have also been identified as taking part in cocaine sales. However, through a unique program known as the East Nashville Intervention Project (ENIP), charges against those five will not be placed at present to give them an opportunity to turn away from criminal behavior.
ENIP is modeled after a similar initiative in High Point, North Carolina, in which law enforcement and social service agencies partner together to intervene in the lives of suspects, such as the five in Nashville, who do not have lengthy arrest histories or prior crimes of violence. In addition to providing a second chance, ENIP is aimed at deterring crime associated with the illegal drug trade, including aggravated assaults, robberies and property crimes.
The five persons chosen to participate in ENIP will meet with police officers, prosecutors, clergy members, and service providers Monday night. They will be told they have two alternatives: turn away from a life of crime and live responsibly OR go to jail on drug charges.
“Arrest is not the long-term solution to crime,” Chief Serpas said. “Education and participation in our city’s thriving economy is the ultimate answer. This second chance option has met with success in High Point. It is my sincere hope that the five persons in this drug investigation will take advantage of ENIP, which could well be expanded in the future.”
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