42 face drug charges /Springfield, Illinois SJ-R

[icymist]

http://www.sj-r.com/sections/news/stories/24211.asp

42 face drug charges
Sudden Impact II indictments unveiled

By CHRIS DETTRO
STAFF WRITER

Neighborhood complaints led to the indictment of 42 people on drug charges, authorities said Tuesday.

Officials said they have named the roundup Operation Sudden Impact II as a follow-up to a successful similar crackdown last summer on street-level crack cocaine dealers.

"Not a single day goes by without us receiving a phone call about drugs in a neighborhood," Springfield Police Chief Don Kliment said at a news conference announcing the indictments.

He said the areas targeted for this round of drug purchases were selected based on calls from the public about drug dealing.

(more)

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I used to live in Springfield. When I read this, my first thought was 'I bet most everyone arrested are black'.

[lovedems]

1. I live in Springfield, Illinois!

I will let you know about the race of those arrested, but I will agree with you on what color they probably are.

[AntiSmirk]

2. I live in Springfield NOW.

I saw that article and thought the same thing. I also wonder how effective this really is. There is always someone else willing to make a fast buck in the underground economy. But hey, we have cool police operation names: SUDDEN IMPACT II ! Indeed.

[Praetorian]

3. I used to live in Springfield

And I miss that drug filled and racially drawn hole even less today than I did 8 years ago!

Who cares what "race" they are??!?!!? They are miserable, disgusting swine that should be sent to Afghanistan for some "hard labor".

Sorry but I have nothing but disdain for the peddlers of that crap. They infest the world with their white crap for money and then plead ... "I can't make a living because I'm this color or because of the economy or because it's anyone else's fault but my own!"

Let them rot.

Springfield was the same 8 years ago. Drugs, Gang Violence to match cities like Chicago and St. Louis. Corruption that would have made Capone smile..... Sad the city hasn't changed!

[argyl]

4. Why not arrest the white customers as they drive back to the suburbs

for possession as well? Rhetorical question.

[Praetorian]

6. Did you read the names?

Douglas, Anderson, Henry, Drake, Mattison, Phillips, Wyatt??

I grew up in a town of 4,000 all white and had neighbors named Henry, played baseball with an Anderson and a Wyatt for my basketball partner.

I think several are presuming too much

[argyl]

7. Looks like they busted an open air drug market in a black part of town.

All for sales,none for possession.Any whites busted were probably not coming in from the suburbs to deal drugs on a street corner but were poor and powerless,lived in the neighborhood, and have much more in common with their black neighbors than the better off whites coming to score for their parties.
This is not only racial discrimination but economic as well.Not all whites live in the shiny suburbs.

[tooncesj0nes]

8. I lived in Springfield 30 years...

....racial discrimination?- give me a break. First of all, by the address and names, most of these folks are black....however- Im sure their BLACK neighbors who are trying to raise their children in these neighborhoods are extremely grateful of these arrests- even if the fact most will be back on the street soon....i just returned from Peru- now THERES poverty and lack of opportunity...we have incredible opportunity in this country. these two bit 'gangstas' now have 'their street cred'- . if all they can get are jobs flipping burgers from here on out because of their choices so be it. Plenty of poor people everywhere not only in America, but the world maintain their dignity by not making the choice to deal or use. Im disapointed to some of you DUers by making this a race issue.

[argyl]

9. I'm not grieving for these busted dealers.Just think that if a few out of

area buyers were busted that would cut down on the drug traffic even further.They are a part of the demand side of this situation. Are Springfield open air drug dealers catering exclusively to their neighbors? That would make for a unique situation in Springfield.
As far as poor blacks making the decision to deal or use, wealthier whites use drugs at a higher percentage.And their coming into this neighborhood looking for drugs and knowing that their chances of getting caught are about zero only exacerbates the problem.

[tooncesj0nes]

10. Argyl-

..you have 3 posts about holding the white users accountable for their part. first of all, I certainly do understand the law of supply and demand. Second, none of us know what percentage of the buyers are 'white'..or any other race for that matter. The point is, that just because 'someone from the shiny suburbs' comes driving through your neighborhood with cash in hand, doesnt mean that you need to be the guy that deals him his crack ....we all have choices in this life..Springfield is a small town (100,00 people)- its not East St louis or the South side of Chicacgo. One doesnt have to drive very far to see examples of how working people live. There are opportunities there- granted, not jobs that will provide the lifestyle modeled in todays rap videos, but anyone who wants to go on the straight can make it there. I owned rental properties in Springfield for 15 years until recently.....these people arrested were looking for a shortcut that the rest of us have to go to work for every day. There are secondary gains to being a dealer and having a record- 'street cred'- its the cool thing to do. Any discussion on the causitive factors of drug dealing should ALSO include the underground culture of the rap music industry and how it exploits those who seek the admiration of this peer group.

[thebigidea]

5. Steven Seagal IS Don Kliment IN Operation Suddent Impact II: Breakpoint