PD: Middletown Couple On Probation Charged With Operating Drug Factory

A Middletown narcotics sting centered on a North End couple on probation for various drug-related charges were discovered dealing crack cocaine and marijuana, according to a police report 

On March 29, narcotics officers served a warrant on Ira D. Lacks, 31, aka "Shorty Black" or "Youngen," and Jessica A. Lombardi, 36, at 22 Green Street, where police say Lacks was selling crack cocaine. 

At 8:30 p.m., Lacks was seen getting into a Nissan Sentra an driving toward Main Street. At 8:35 p.m. forced entry into the home and a police canine found narcotics and trace scents of items in contact with drugs, according to the report, and $575 in cash.

Also found was a cell phone in the car. Lombardi told officers Lacks was out getting a money order to pay rent, the report says, and a search revealed two bags of marijuana, a metal grinder with marijuana residue, a glass and a metal marijuana pipe, a digital scale with cocaine traces and a gas mask in the closet to smoke marijuana.

The report says a cell phone on a dresser had multiple text messages asking for marijuana and a yellow, "penis-shaped" marijuana pipe, as well as more cash. Lacks phone rang constantly, police say, and they later met with two woman whom they arrested for criminal attempt to purchase crack cocaine in the It's Only Natural Market parking lot on Main Street. Lacks told police he was unemployed and worked at Labor Ready.

, police charged both possession of crack cocaine, possession with intent to sell, and within 1,500 feet of a school, possession of less than 4 ounces of marijuana, and with intent to sell, and with intent to sell within 1,500 feet of a school, possession of drug paraphernalia, risk of injury to a minor. Lacks was also charged with criminal possession of a firearm.

Last July, Lacks was driving on Liberty Street and a police officer saw him stop at Pearl and Washington streets over the crosswalk, the report says. A search revealed $241 in cash in a cup holder, .2 grams of soap-like substance in a baggie which tested positive for crack, the report says.

Also last July, Lacks was driving a Chevrolet Cavalier on High Street and almost hit another car as an officer was watching. The report says Lacks has a long criminal record for possession and sale of crack cocaine, intent to sell and possession of a handgun. An officer saw cocaine on the car floorboard and a K-9 identified it as such, the report says, and some more in a cup totaling .1 grams; Lacks insisted the white cup contents was pieces of bread and he couldn’t understand why he was being arrested.

This day, both were charged with non-student possessing drug paraphernalia near school, possession with intent to sell, possession controlled substances, distribution of such within 1,500 feet of school, possession less than 4 ounces marijuana, non-student possessing drugs near school.