CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and federal investigators arrested nine Charlotte men on federal drug charges Friday in the Enderly Park neighborhood of west Charlotte.
They expect to arrest one more, and they also charged a 70-year-old woman, Mary Falls, with one count of maintaining drug-involved premises.
It took six months of investigating to get to the major drug bust. Neighbors told Eyewitness News they're so fed up with crime, they were excited to see police.
"I came home and told my husband that I had been circulating through the neighborhood watching the police arresting people," Gwendolyn Brown-Johnson said. "I told him I just felt good seeing it."
Police told Eyewitness News nine men -- Theodore Falls, Maurice Crawford, Derrick Lowery, Derrick Owens, Aaron Ligon, Mario Wilson, Cadaryl Drayton, Curtis Smith and Lavar Rodgers -- were charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack, cocaine and marijuana.
"Persistent street sells had gotten embedded in this neighborhood," Lt. Blake Hollar said about the roundup. He said police had been dealing with the problem for years, but with the help of the feds, they were able to address the problem in a new way.
It isn't the first time CMPD has taken a big stand against drug trafficking and related violence. In 2007, police arrested members of the Hidden Valley Kings gang who were dealing drugs and violence. Since then, the streets have changed.
"I feel real safe over here in Hidden Valley," Diane Moses said. "It's much quieter."
Police say crime is down.
"A message was sent back in 2007 to deal with issues that we need to hit head-on," Lt. Ken Schul said.