LANCASTER, Pa. — A house on Strawberry Street was condemned after police served a narcotics search warrant and made several arrests. Lancaster City Bureau of Police Selective Enforcement Unit (SEU), assisted by the Street Operations Group (SOG), served a narcotics search warrant at 461 E. Strawberry St. on March 3, 2016 around 5:15pm.
Police received numerous complaints of drug activity occurring at the address and conducted several surveillance operations at the address and participated in controlled purchases of narcotics from inside the home. During the subsequent search of the home, officers located packaging material consistent with previous purchases, a small amount of marijuana, a small amount of synthetic marijuana and paraphernalia used to ingest marijuana and crack cocaine. The home was condemned by a Lancaster City Housing Inspector as unfit for human habitation.
While a suspect, Medwin Alvarez, was being transported to the police station for booking he attempted to discard seven bags of heroin in the seatbelt catch of the rear seat of the police cruiser. Observant transport officers noticed what Alvarez had attempted to accomplish and recovered the heroin.
During the course of the ongoing investigation SEU officers also charged Luz Pena, 22, with Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia;Christen Rivera, 20, with Possession of synthetic marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Leslie Alavarez, 28, with Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Police say the house was the epicenter for drug activity occurring within the neighborhood for several months which also adversely affected the neighborhoods surrounding it. The Bureau’s Selective Enforcement Unit is committed to locating and removing drug locations in an effort to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors of Lancaster city alike.
