Woman, 84, Claims She Didn't Know Home Was Drug-Dealing Haven
POSTED: Wednesday, October 25, 2006
UPDATED: 1:53 pm CDT October 25,
2006
SAN ANTONIO -- Carrie Hardaway admits her grandchildren have been arrested on drug charges before and doesn't deny they walk up and down Buena Vista street at all hours of the night.
But the 84-year-old woman claims she never envisioned that her home was a haven for crack cocaine dealing.
"Truly the cars do stop a whole lot," she said. "I don't know what they're getting from them. Most of the time I'm back in my room reading the Bible."
But on Friday, federal agents raided Hardaway's West Side home while she was asleep.
"Only thing I hear was 'Boom! Boom !" she said. "And I said, 'Oh Lord, my house was on fire.'"
Drug Enforcement Agency officials said that there were between 75 and 100 drug transactions occuring at Hardaway's home and two others nearby for nearly 15 years.
"It was drive-through, come up to the fence and take the drugs," said Nancy Sanford of the DEA. "A lot of them would put it in their mouths and leave."
Sanford said the most serious charge Hardaway faces is that of drugs being sold within 100 feet of a school.
Hardaway's home and the two others may also be destroyed, Sanford said.
"We may actually demolish those houses and put in some type of community service education center," she said.
Eight people in all were initially arrested, including Hardaway.
Acting on a tip, law enforcement officials later arrested Leonard Johnson on drug charges.
The DEA is still looking for Christopher Hardaway, 33; Reginald Harrison, 37; and Clarence McAllister, 28.
Anyone with information is urged to call the DEA at (210) 442-5600.
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