Cheshire Police Assist in Narcotics Bust

 This is a news release from the Connecticut State Police:

Members of the Cheshire Police Department were involved in pre-dawn raids this morning as part of the State Police Tactical Teams accompanied by the New Haven Police Department Swat Team. They served search warrants in the Church Street South Housing Project. The neighborhood has a history of gang activity, violent crime and a presence of narcotics which has affected the quality of life for the residents in the community.

These search warrants were issued after an investigation into illegal narcotics dealing in this area. Members of the task force arrested the following individuals for the sales of the illegal drugs.

Marquita Landelius (DOB 02/28/75) of 4C Cinque Green, New Haven

Jules Kierce (DOB 07/21/91) of 7C Station Court, New Haven

Jose Rivera (DOB 09/21/69) of 14A Malcolm Court, New Haven

Also arrested for other narcotics on-site charges in these raids were:

Ebony Baines (DOB 10/16/79) of 52 Loveland Street, Middletown

Michael Radford (DOB 06/29/81) of 61 Stevens Street New Haven

Shirley Thomas (DOB 02/03/63) of 1008 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden

Natasha Radford (DOB 06/09/83) of 7C Station Court, New Haven

The following targets of this investigation were also charged with other new on-site narcotics charges:

Marquita Landelius (DOB 02/28/75) of 4C Cinque Green, New Haven

Jules Kierce (DOB 07/21/91) of 7C Station Court, New Haven

The task force works directly with the Department of Children and Families together focusing on the Drug Endangered Children Program. DCF workers responded and assisted with five children located in these homes. One child was removed and four were referred to the program. Several of the above individuals were subsequently charged with risk of injury as well.

Seized in the operation was crack cocaine, heroin, several items of drug paraphernalia and packaging and cash. All of the above arrestees were processed and will appear at New Haven superior court Thursday.

The Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Unit South Central Field Office is comprised of State Police Detectives as well as officers from Cheshire, New Haven, Orange, Woodbridge and West Haven Police Departments.