Close to 10,000 bags of heroin off Wilmington streets

A routine police stop in Wilmington netted more than 9,700 bags of heroin, with a street value of approximately $97,520.

Police stopped Allen Freeman’s car in the area of 27th and N. Claymont Streets after he blew through a stop sign in Wilmington on Tuesday morning. Freeman, 27, was driving with a suspended license and police found 26 bags of heroin on him.

According to the Wilmington Police Department, police executed a warrant to search passenger Jermaine Reed’s home, where officers found Travis May, 27.

Additional warrants on both men’s cars resulted in the discovery of $9,574 in cash, 146.28 grams of heroin packaged up in 9,752 bags as well as a loaded gun. 

All three men are in jail facing charges including possession of heroin, possession with intent to deliver and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and by a person prohibited.

Police and community working together

Tuesday’s heroin and gun arrests were carried out by members of Operation Safe Streets, a unit comprised of Wilmington police officers and state probation and parole officers. 

Earlier this week, Wilmington Police Chief Bobby Cummings announced a 25 percent increase in the department’s homicide clearance rate and a 33.53 percent increase in felony arrests involving a firearm compared to last year. 

Cummings credits both Mayor Dennis Williams’ creation of the city’s first homicide unit last year as well as aggressive community-based policing strategies, like Safe Streets and DISRUPT, for the wins. 

“By working closely together, the community and police are standing up against senseless acts of gun violence. Maintaining this collaborative effort is important, as we look to continue cracking down on violent crime,” Cummings said.