http://rutlandherald.com/article/20140613/THISJUSTIN/706139985
Prosecutor: Rise in violence needs stern response
By Brent Curtis
staff writer | June 13,2014
SPRINGFIELD — From her window overlooking the intersection of Main, Summer and Park streets in town, Andrea Watkins said she has watched the rapid escalation of drug trafficking in the downtown in recent years.
“Thugs hang out there all day,” she said, gesturing to the street corner next to the Wilson Block. “Cars drive up and leave. I think they’re dealing drugs. I’m sure of it.”
Her boss at the Main Street accounting firm, Susan Dana, agreed.
“The downtown has changed a lot. People are coming in from out of state and it’s all about drugs,” she said.
State’s Attorney Michael Kainen and his chief deputy prosecutor David Cahill don’t disagree that drug trafficking has not only taken seed in the former industrial community but has also contributed to a number of violent acts, including a shooting in the heart of the downtown and at a Summer Street apartment just hundreds of yards away Wednesday afternoon.
“But for a tree blocking your vision you would be able to see where Terrick Craft shot Nick Brown,” Cahill said, referring to the July 2012 drug-related shooting. “It is remarkable in Vermont to have two such shootings within line of sight of a downtown that both involve out of state individuals.”
Also remarkable is that Craft, who accepted an eight to 15-year prison sentence as part of a plea deal reached with prosecutors in December, is the brother of 33-year-old Jabbar A. Chandler who police say was one of three assailants involved in the Summer Street shooting Wednesday. Court records released Thursday indicate that Chandler did not fire a gun during the incident.
From the point of view of the county’s prosecutors, the escalating drug trafficking and violence requires a stern response.
“We’d like to prosecute these cases vigorously,” Kainen said.
The two prosecutors said most of the cocaine and heroin traffic plaguing the town is coming from dealers who hail from New Jersey.
“They’re coming up from Jersey City and Newark,” Kainen said, adding that some have suspected connections to The Bloods street gang.
“I can’t tell you why some people in New Jersey said ‘Hey, Springfield is the place to be,’ but members of the (state police) Drug Task Force believe many of them do.”
Since the 2012 shooting, the town’s police force has responded with a series of foot and cruiser patrols in the downtown — including sweeps with drug-sniffing dogs and the use of license plate readers to track vehicles, according to Select Board Chairman Kristi Morris.
In addition, he said neighborhood alliances have been forming to band the community together, he said.
But Morris said he’s heard reports of open-air drug trafficking like Watkins’ account and he said the shooting Wednesday demonstrates that efforts to curb the local drug trade are far from over.
Monday, the board chairman said he plans to travel to Montpelier to learn about techniques being used in other communities to collapse local drug markets. He said his five-member board will discuss ways to respond to the most recent act of violence during its regular meeting later that night.
Stern? That's the best you can do? What is stern anyway? Does that mean that the prosecutor will way his/her finger at the defendant during the trial?
ReplyDeleteHow about just shutting your collective mouths, quit the grandstanding, and set about doing your damn jobs more effectively by trying them, convicting them, and recommending the most severe sentence allowable under the law? Which is what you should have been doing all along!
Amazingly, residents see drug transactions downtown but the police don't see that. They must be looking somewhere else. Interesting also Terrick Craft is the brother of Jabbar Changler. I wonder what kind of deal Jabbar will make.
ReplyDeletePerhaps Springfield's drug sniffing dog could spend more time in Springfield, rather than Chester. It would get another cruiser back on OUR streets as well.
DeleteLOL, yes because he's patrolling Chester you goon...Aye aye aye!
DeleteSince all of those concerned are well acquainted with our judiciary, there is one recourse, DOUBLE, SECRET, PROBATION!
ReplyDeleteHmmm here is a thought Kristi Morris...have you heard about stop and search that NYC does? Ummm hello dropped their crime and drug issues dramatically. How about the landlords being held financially responsible for repayment of the cost of town payroll man hours because they did not evict a resident who has drug convictions? Not unlike how the fire department bills individuals for using foam during a fire etc etc! Are you people really this stupid? No wonder the dealers come here because apparently you have no clue what the outside world has done.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely this requires a stern response. Like maybe they might actually have to spend a night or two behind bars. That will surely bring them into line. Or maybe their girlfriends should have their welfare benefits paid out on a EBT card instead of cash. Oh no, wait that would be too harsh. We need to be mindful of how best to reintegrate them into society and of course we can't let the children of these drug-dealer enabling women suffer just because their mothers choose out of state drug dealers as their main squeeze.
ReplyDeleteThe town administration in Springfield has kept in head buried in the sand for years. The officers at the police department brought the drug issues forward in a vote of "no confidence" against the chief years ago, and in blind loyal support to their cronie, failed to take action. The blame here belongs to the police chief and the selectboard for failing to take action the police officers requested.
ReplyDeleteWe do not have a drug or gang problem in Springfield.
DeleteAfter the first shooting a couple years ago, I contacted the Chief and asked if we could meet with him as we had concers about the safety of a family member who lives and works (downtown). Because we don't live in town we weren't sure if we could meet with him but he said his door is always open to anyone who has concerns about public safety. We asked him point blank if there were drug or gang problem. His response was there were drug problems and wanna be gang members were trying to assemble here. So to 10:11 you are factually incorrect. We were very pleased with our meeting with the Chief. Something tells us that Anonymous 7:00pm and 10:11pm are one in the same. A disgruntled police employee past or present who can't take constructive criticism or disipline. Over the years we've had these types of crybaby empolyee's in our business, why should the Town of Springfield or the police dept be any different! Why don't you focus on doing your jobs and stop with the boo hoo hoo! We can see right through you.
ReplyDeleteWell, 11:16 I suggest you get your facts correct. I lived in Springfield for 10 years. As this epidemic started taking hold there was indeed a public forum which the residents attended and tried to bring the concerns to the public. At that meeting the police chief said in plain terms that there was NOT a drug or gang issue happening. I suggest you read the local papers about how terrible this issue has become. This chief needs to be removed for someone who has the real life experience with these modern day problems. And NO I do not work in law enforcement I left years ago to get my family in better safer schools and neighborhoods. Sorry to sound condescending but I do know what I am talking about and I am not bitter. I loved my time there but its way too dangerous now.
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