14 people arrested on East Side on felony drug charges

Arrests made in 500 block of Morningview Drive

SAN ANTONIO – UPDATE: San Antonio police have made an additional five arrests in this case, bringing the total number of arrests to 14. 

Original Story:

A two-month-long investigation culminated Thursday with the arrests of nine people on felony drug charges on the city's East Side, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said.

The arrests were made in the 500 block of Morningview Drive, a neighborhood McManus said is notorious for criminal activity.

McManus said law enforcement officials are looking to arrest five more people.

"I guarantee you that they will be caught," he said.

The investigation was led by the San Antonio Police Department, which was assisted by various other law enforcement agencies.

McManus said the suspects live in other areas of the city, but set up shop on the East Side.

"They come here to sell drugs," he said.

“Since I’ve been a little kid, this community has seen its ups and downs. The offenders who come over here, they have no place over here," said Walter Perry, who lives nearby. "Our community is for people willing to work, change their lives and raise their families. All we're looking to do is live the next day.”

“This is not an East Side problem. It's a San Antonio problem, so we're working with our constituents, working with these children, to help them realize this is a great community," said District 2 Councilman William "Cruz" Shaw.

McManus said the arrests are related to the roundup last week of nine other suspects on federal drug charges.

The arrests are helping to chip away at the criminal activity that has been plaguing the area for a long time. McManus said he hopes the ongoing efforts will eventually change the tone of the East Side.

"About a year ago, there were 10 members arrested in another joint effort of FBI, SAPD, arresting individuals who were responsible for the back-and-forth constant violence here on the East Side. Since those arrests, the violence on the East Side has come to somewhat of a calm," McManus said.

SAPD released the following list of names and charges for individuals arrested as a result of the operation: 

Cornell Pope
Age: 24
Warrant for Man/Del CS PG 1 <1 gram in Drug Free Zone, warrant for Evading Arrest, Warrant for Felon Poss of Firearm, warrant for Poss of Marijuana 0-2 oz

Thomas Debrow
Age: 37
Warrant for Man/Del CS PG1 1-4 grams

Jahvann Lewis
Age: 20 
Warrant for Man/Del CS PG1 1-4 grams

Michael Chandler
Age: 35
Warrant for Man/Del CS PG1 1-4 grams, warrant for Man/Del CS PG 1 <1 gram in Drug Free Zone

Frank Dunn
Age: 35
Warrant for Man/Del CS PG1 1-4 grams, warrants for Man/Del CS PG 1 <1 gram in Drug Free Zone X2

La Tarrel Robinson
Age: 30
Warrants for Man/Del CS PG 1 <1 gram in Drug Free Zone X2

Ernest Chase
Age: 33
Warrants for Man/Del CS PG 1 <1 gram in Drug Free Zone X2, new charge for Felon Poss. of Firearm

Robert Gant
Age: 42
Warrant for Man/Del CS PG 1 <1 gram in Drug Free Zone

Charles Jones
Age: 27 
Warrant for Possession of Marijuana 4oz-5lbs

Seabron Stevenson
Age: 47
Warrant for Man/Del CS PG 1 <1 gram in Drug Free Zone

Nathaniel Slack
Age: 25
Charge: Poss W/I Del CS PG1 4-200 grams

Jack Holland
Age: 57
Warrants for Theft by Check $20-$500, Poss W/I Del CS PG1 4-200 grams, Theft <$1500 enhanced

Robert Barrientes
Age: 24
Warrant for Evading in Vehicle

Rashi Campbell 
Age: 38 
Municipal court warrant

 


About the Authors:

David Ibañez has been managing editor of KSAT.com since the website's launch in October 2000.