Officials: Senior Housing Used As Front For Drug Dealers

DETROIT (WWJ) - The Wayne County Sheriff Office is serving arrest warrants for drug suspects operating out of senior citizen housing buildings in Detroit.

At a 10-story senior apartment building on Woodward Ave., south of Mack, residents reporting living in fear as thugs took over their homes to sell marijuana, cocaine and heroin.

"People took advantage by force and coercion to work their way into these individuals homes and basically told them, 'We're going to sell drugs out of your apartment, and there's nothing you can do [about] it,'" said Wayne County Undersheriff Daniel Pfannes.

The Wayne County sheriff's department says the agency worked with the ATF, Wayne State University police, the Wayne County prosecutor's office and others in a Monday morning sweep that included buildings in Detroit's downtown.

They're calling the series of raids "Operation Save Our Seniors."

As of early afternoon, authorities had made about 20 arrests.

"Some were related to them [the seniors]; some were friends with them; some ... just forcing their way in, saying we're working out of here and you won't do anything. A lot of intimidation," Wayne State University Police Chief Anthony Holt said.

Authorities are still looking for about 20 more suspects, ranging in age from early 20s up to around 60.

The suspects names were not immediately released.