People

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

A four-week drug investigation in Paterson ended with the arrest of a 48-year-old man accused of running a crack-cocaine operation from his apartment, authorities said Friday, Nov. 28.

Ricky Isaiah Peoples, 48, was allegedly distributing crack-cocaine from his home at 165 North Main Street, located on the second floor of the building, in Paterson, Passaic County Sheriff Thomas Adamo said.

Detectives obtained court-approved warrants for Peoples and his apartment before conducting surveillance on Wednesday, Nov. 25, in the area of North Main Street, Adamo said.

Detectives saw Peoples leave his home and get into a blue BMW. A motor vehicle stop was conducted, and Peoples was detained around that time, officials said. Other detectives later searched his apartment, authorities said.

Inside the home, detectives found more than 1.5 ounces of crack-cocaine packaged in individual vials, drug paraphernalia “consistent with a production/manufacturing facility,” and $356 in suspected drug proceeds, according to the sheriff.

Peoples was formally charged and released on his own recognizance with multiple drug offenses, including possession of crack-cocaine with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of Paterson Public School No. 12, and possession of crack-cocaine with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a public park.

The seized crack-cocaine carries an estimated street value of $2,500, authorities said.