Hill drug sweep nets 60

 

Pittsburgh police arrested more than 60 people during a five-month drug sweep in the Hill District, including a father and son described as high-level dealers who have been called a scourge upon that neighborhood for decades. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl joined police Chief Nate Harper Monday in unrolling the results of Operation Clean Sweep, in which detectives seized more than $83,000 in cash and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of heroin, cocaine and marijuana. The officials spoke at a news conference at the corner of Erin Street and Centre Avenue, where police said they observed many of the open-air drug deals. Rather than focus on hand-to-hand drug sales, police said they sought "high-level targets," such as Howard Horsley, 66, whose criminal record dates back to 1976, when he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for participating in a multimillion-dollar scheme to distribute "Mexican Brown" heroin. Mr. Horsley's son, Howard Horsley Jr., 28, also was charged in the sting. Police described him as a "midlevel dealer" who sold heroin to lower-level street dealers. "He has been doing this 30 years, and he has passed along his trade to his son," Cmdr. George Trosky said of the elder Mr. Horsley, whom he called "the main dealer in the Hill District." "The officers have been quite busy working to eradicate the drug activity that has been plaguing this neighborhood," Chief Harper told reporters as lifelong residents strolled past to listen. Many said they were skeptical of the sweep, which also involved the efforts of several social service providers whose representatives roamed the streets to remind drug dealers and users of what they can offer, the chief said. "Let's see how long it lasts," said one resident, David Monroe, 63, who recognized all the mug shots on display. Many of those charged are in their 50s and 60s, Chief Harper noted, longtime dealers who pass in and out of the revolving door of the criminal justice system. "They go to jail, they get back out and they're involved in the same activity again," the chief said. Another "key target" was Daniel "Penn Man" Penn, 52, who police said supplied heroin to at least nine other people, who then packaged it for sale on the street. Police said they found $19,000 worth of heroin on him during his arrest in January, and a search of his car netted more than $36,000 in cash, a surveillance system, a firearm and drug packaging equipment. Mr. Ravenstahl said such drug activity is unacceptable as development in the Hill District continues. "Residents deserve safety and a quality of life that is not compromised by illegal activity," he said.