Nine suspected drug dealers have been apprehended in a recent sting operation conducted by the New York Police Department (NYPD) in Washington Square Park. The individuals are accused of selling psychedelic mushrooms and crack cocaine to undercover officers, according to the city’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office. The arrests come after reports last year exposed the rampant drug dealing in the park, with dealers openly peddling their illicit substances in broad daylight.
The suspects, who were arrested at various intervals over the past six weeks, are believed to be part of a loosely affiliated street crew that operated during afternoon and evening shifts. They allegedly made more than a dozen sales to undercover officers during the months-long investigation. The undercover probe was initiated in response to community complaints about the prevalent drug activity in the park, which had become a cause for concern among residents.
Among the arrested individuals are Jordan Gill, 26, and Omalley Harris, 25, both from Brooklyn; Donald Mack, 33, from Hempstead; Elisha Roger, 21, from Queens; Kimberly Scales, 44, from New York; Nazzir Washington, 20, from the Bronx; and Victor Whaley, 33, also from the Bronx. They have all been indicted on various counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance. Joshua Dunlap, 39, and James Cooney, 21, both from the Bronx, have been charged separately with criminal sale of a controlled substance.
Psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, is classified as a Schedule 1 narcotic in New York State. Those found guilty of selling even a gram of the drug can face felony charges and up to 25 years in prison. The NYPD Commissioner, Edward A. Caban, commended the investigators and the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for their dedication to this case, emphasizing the importance of reclaiming Washington Square Park from drug-related activities.
