Dealers have been selling heroin at a public library and an elementary school, among other neighborhood destinations in Westchester, prosecutors said Thursday as they announced 18 arrests in the investigation.
Among those arrested was the alleged dealer who sold drugs to a teacher at Valhalla Elementary School a few weeks ago; the teacher was arrested at the time.
"This war on drugs has been something we've been fighting for decades and decades," said Westchester District Attorney Anthony Scarpino.
Many of the suspects were each selling heroin in White Plains to more than 25 people, prosecutors allege, some of whom were buying the drug on a daily basis.
Some of the buys were even taking place at the White Plains Public Library, and in Greenburgh. There was no evidence the drugs was sold to minors, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said the investigation started last year but it sped up and expanded at the beginning of this year. They were able to move in and make the local arrests after an alleged Bronx dealer, Luis Castro, was arrested earlier this week, which it helped authorities identify two dealers based in White Plains, Otto Armstrong -- the person who allegedly sold the drugs to the teacher -- and Willie James Edwards.
Authorities recovered two handguns, 2.5 kilos of heroin worth $1.5 million on the street, and $100,000 cash.
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Eleven of the suspects arrested have been arraigned on felony drug and conspiracy charges. They include Armstrong, Edwards, Byron Gaynor, Alonzo Thompson, George Jamison, Leon Richardson, Francis Brooks, Daryl Kyle, Clifton Monk, Bernard Pease and Dwane Stennett.
It wasn't clear if any of the defendants had attorneys who could comment on their behalf.
