In the wake of a bust that charged five men with operating a $1 million cocaine operation between Philadelphia and State College, one State College Police captain said the fight against drugs is far from over.
State College Police Capt. Dana Leonard said the department has been participating in the Centre County Drug Task Force since 1999, and there is still plenty of work cut out for them. Despite recent arrests, he said it is disturbing this level of drug dealing is continuing.
"The task force is busy as ever," he said. "They still have plenty of work."
Edwin Rhoades, 38, 202 W. Church St., Centre Hall, Pa.; James Losch, 47, 4190 Jacksonville Road, Howard, Pa.; Brian King, 27, 522 Wallingford Avenue, Media, Pa.; Hasan Bradley, 29, 100 Forest Edge, Deptford, N.J.; and Andre Spangler, 30, 512 Vernon St., Media, Pa., were all charged in connection with operating the drug ring, according to a press release from Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett's office. State narcotics agents estimate the men were responsible for bringing about $1 million dollars worth of cocaine into the Centre County area since 2008, according to the press release.
Agents suspect the organization distributed about 20 pounds of cocaine since the investigation began in 2009. Leonard said it is satisfying to make these arrests but the fact that several happen a year is not a good sign. The investigation, known as "Operation Rhoade Block," began in January 2009 and focused on the distribution of several hundred ounces of cocaine in the State College area, Corbett said in the release.
"Every year, we still have these levels of arrests," Leonard said. "It's a disturbing trend that we're seeing."
