Crime & Safety

PD: Felon, Narcotics Dealer Busted With Pistol, Crack, Pot at Home

A search of the Middletown home revealed 7.4 grams of marijuana, three debit cards not in Lawrence's name, an electronic scale, crack cocaine, and a .22 caliber hand gun.

A narcotics sting in the city's North End drew a crowd after the cousin of the man under investigation riled up neighbors by accusing detectives of planting evidence, according to the report.

During March and April, the police narcotics unit investigated cocaine trafficking in the city's North End by a 39-year-old Spring Street man.

On Sept. 24 at 6 p.m., police were serving a warrant on Heshmia Lawrence of Spring Street, who lives with his girlfriend and her 12-year-old daughter, and a search revealed a large amount of cash and cell phone with text messages discussing the scale, price and meeting locations of cocaine customers, according to the report. 

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A search of the home revealed 7.4 grams of marijuana, three debit cards not in Lawrence's name, an electronic scale, crack cocaine, and a .22 caliber hand gun. 

A crowd of people gathered in front of the home, including his cousin, Jakese G. Sessoms, 38, of Spencer Drive, a known cocaine trafficker who works with Lawrence, according to the report.

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Sessoms yelled to Lawrence despite police commanding him not to, then yelled at the crowd that they had "planted evidence" and Lawrence does not have a gun, according to the report. He became more obscene and belligerent, the document indicates, while children and woman were present and alarming neighbors. 

Police say Sessoms made handcuffing difficult and friends of both men yelled at detectives; the incident required many officers to help with crowd control. 

Sessoms was arrested for the breach of peace and Lawrence for possession with intent to sell, non-student possession drug paraphernalia near school, sale of, possession of and two counts distribution of controlled substance within 1,500 feet of school, risk of injury to a child, criminal possession of gun, possession less than half-ounce marijuana. 

Lawrence, a convicted felon out on bond on a pending case, police say, has a record of possession and sale of narcotics, probation violation, operating under suspension, interfering with police, possession of drugs within 1,500 feet of school, possession of crack cocaine, rioting in an institution and reckless endangerment. 

In May, Lawrence, owner of the now closed Definitely Urban Clothing at 540 Main Street, was arrested after selling cocaine and marijuana to customers, according to the report. 

Sessoms is a felon with convictions for probation and protective order violations, failure to appear, possession with intent to sell, breach of peace, disorderly conduct, burglary, possession and sale of narcotics, weapons in a motor vehicle, DUI, third-degree assault, criminal trespass and possession of drugs in a prohibited place. He's on probation, the report says.


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