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As residents of Clinton Hill and longtime readers of this blog know, the drug dealing and related violence at the corner of Grand and Putnam avenues has long been a scourge on the neighborhood. A couple of weeks ago, a coordinated effort between the Brooklyn DA’s office and the Brooklyn North division of the NYPD (which included 18 purchases by undercover officers) culminated in a raid of several buildings and businesses, resulting in the arrest of 24 suspects and the indictment of 11. Top charges against some of them include Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, which can result in up to 15 years in prison. The map in the slide show shows the locations of the alleged activity. At the press conference given by Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes, we were shown a video showing undercover buys on Grand along the side of the bodega and inside in the hallway of 435 Grand Avenue across the street; we were also told of some footage showing a buy go down with a young girl sitting on the stairs in the background doing her homework. In addition, three guns and two pounds of marijuana were seized from the two t-shirt stores at 13 and 13-R Putnam Avenue while 75 grams of crack were found at the barber shop at 14 Putnam Avenue. The big question now will be what happens in the wake of the power vaccuum: Will dealers decide it’s easier to find a new place of business now that this is a certified hot-spot or will there be a violent struggle to assume control of the corner?


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. Brandon Emanual and Dexter B. Smart at 1049 Fulton Street Brooklyn Reinassance Clothing store. this location is a front for seling illeagal narcotics. you can go by there anytime of the day and smell canabis coming from the environment. There is heavy traffic coming to and from this location all time of the day and night.We are watching you. The NYPD, DEA, and FBI will be notified accordingly about this illeagal activity you will not ravish this community with your poision. Dexter drives a black Cadillac Escalade New York License Plate EFZ 9655

  2. Brandon Emanual and Dexter B. Smart at 1049 Fulton Street Brooklyn Reinassance Clothing store. this location is a front for seling illeagal narcotics. you can go by there anytime of the day and smell canabis coming from the environment. There is heavy traffic coming to and from this location all time of the day and night.We are watching you. The NYPD, DEA, and FBI will be notified accordingly about this illeagal activity you will not ravish this community with your poision.

  3. Agree with fsrq and chill. This is a cat & mouse game and it will go on and on. As someone blessed to live next to another notorious spot, raids mean nothing. These operations are set up to sustain arrests. None of the real generals were in the arrests, I’m sure. Generally its users and youngsters that need to earn their stripes. I have to say things have mellowed on my block over the last few years. While they used to operate on the sidewalk and someone was working the stoop 24/7, now they seem to have moved inside and mostly quieted down. I started calling 311 more often about 3 years ago and have talked to several neighbors who say they have been calling 311/police more often, too. So maybe there was just more and more police harassment and they didn’t feel it was worth it to stay so obvious anymore. It doesn’t ever make it go away- hot spots are pretty stable, but I guess lots of calls over a few years can bring it down a notch.

  4. Well Charlie Guess, Pee Wee, Bay Bay, and of course “I’m the Man” Darneil Jones. You are not above the law remember the old saying you are only passing through!!!!! You were killing your own people with your poision. And the rest of you on Grand and Putnam can not hide at 1049 Fulton Street Reniessiance clothing store.

  5. there will always be drugs. however, the police can force the dealers to be subtle and not affect the neighborhood.

    As a corollary, there has been and will always be prostitution. however, the city only really cares about streetwalkers and large-scale operations. Nonetheless, prostitution continues in the shadows of craigslist and elsewhere.