MANCHESTER, NH — A drug crackdown known as Operation “Granite Hammer” came down hard on several people Oct. 1, for the second consecutive week. Although it targeted those dealing drugs, others were arrested on outstanding warrants, police said.
Among those arrested was a man wanted in connection with two recent armed robberies at a Manchester gas station/convenience store.
Members of the Special Enforcement Division and SWAT team executed a search warrant at 330 Lowell Street at 5:45 a.m. locating and arresting those involved in illicit drug sales.
Samantha McCarty, 26, Patrick Heile (no photo available) 27, and Stephen Foden, 28, were arrested for previous warrants. McCarty was arrested on sale of a controlled drug (psilocybin, commonly referred to as mushrooms). Heile was arrested on a previous warrant for sale of a controlled drug (marijuana) and Foden was charged on a previous warrant for two counts possession of a controlled drug (LSD and marijuana). Police executed the search warrant and seized $5,140, a long rifle and 3.4 pounds of marijuana, as well as 14-ounces of hash oil.
Next, the multiple teams of detectives, federal agents and State Police personnel drove throughout the Queen City scooping up additional people. Henry Prive, 39, was arrested at 341 Mammoth Road on a warrant for parole violation-robbery.
A subsequent search warrant was executed and Manchester Police detectives were able to charge Prive with two armed robberies at the Hanover Street Shell station. The robberies occurred on September 15 and September 29. Dawn, Russo, 39, was also arrested out of that address and charged on a warrant for forgery and receiving stolen property.
The following individuals were arrested throughout the night:
Brian Strandberg, 30, charged with warrant-sale of a controlled drug-crack-cocaine); Ousman Trawalley, 24, charged with possession of controlled drug-crack-cocaine; Michael Patterson, 63, charged with possession of controlled drug (crack-cocaine .6g); Richard Valentin, 40, charged with possession of controlled drug (heroin .5g); William Slocum, 29, charged on warrant for another agency-no charge available); Daniel Rogers, 29, charged with resisting arrest; Christopher King, 25, charged with warrant from another agency; Nicholas Sullivan, 22, charged on electronic bench warrant and Tiffany Copeland (no photo), 27, charged with possession of controlled drug; Mark Demita, 47, charged with warrant-possession of controlled drug,
Police arrested 16 individuals, seized a small amount of crack-cocaine, heroin, ¾ pounds of marijuana, 14 ounces hash oil and over $5,000 cash. The arrests of these individuals will greatly assist those adversely affected by the negative quality of life issues the aforementioned people may bring to their respective neighborhoods. All but three of the arrested subjects live in Manchester. Trawalley is from Alexandria, VA; Patterson resides in Rochester; and Sullivan resides in Raymond.
The arrests coincided with a stop at Manchester Police Department by Gov. Maggie Hassan who spoke about the ongoing heroin crisis. She has allocated $150,000 toward the multi-agency approach to combat the drug trade in the Queen City.
