Queens fentanyl bust: Fatal dose of narcotics across from child's bedroom, police say
"I don't know how anyone could think it's okay," said NYPD Deputy Chief Jerry O'Sullivan.
QUEENS VILLAGE, Queens (WABC) -- Fentanyl and weapons were discovered Wednesday at another New York City location occupied by a child, days after a one-year-old boy died of fentanyl exposure at his Bronx daycare, according to the NYPD.
A search of a home in Queens Village turned up a loaded high-capacity rifle along with a Smith and Wesson .45mm handgun, a Taurus .9mm handgun, a Taurus Judge .45mm handgun and a Zastava ZPAP85 pistol, police said.
Officers also recovered four kilo presses, more than 5 pounds of suspected cocaine with traces of fentanyl and more than two pounds of suspected heroin with traces of fentanyl in the home, where a 10-year-old lives.
"What makes this crime even more dangerous, significant is that a ten year old child was in close proximity to the substances recovered at this location," Deputy Chief Jerry O'Sullivan said during a news conference at the NYPD's 105th Precinct. "This was a large operation. We're not done here yet."
The child was asleep in a second floor bedroom at the single-family house when officers went in just before 5 a.m.
Across the hall from the child's room is where O'Sullivan said investigators recovered some of the drugs. Additional drugs, along with the weapons, were discovered in the basement.
"I don't know how anyone could think it's OK" O'Sullivan said. "Fatal doses of illegal narcotics are just across the hall from where a ten-year-old child is sleeping. It is completely unacceptable."
Five people who live at the home are charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon, acting in a manner injurious to a child, criminal use of drug paraphilia and criminal possession of a narcotic drug.
Those arrested include two men: 48-year-old Ancil Hazelwood and 43-year-old Malik Lewis and three women: 28-year-old Jessica Smythe, 32-year-old Courtney Jackson and 37-year-old Domonique Sierra.
Ordinarily, a search like this one would be considered routine but given the recent story of the Bronx day care, police are using it to highlight the widespread fentanyl problem.
Nicholas Dominici, 1, died after police say he was exposed to fentanyl that was in the Divino Nino Daycare in Kingsbridge. Three other children were hospitalized.
Federal charges have been filed against two suspects in the case. A third person is still being sought.
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