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Drug charges against five in Harwood Heights
Harwood Heights police dubbed this entrance on the east side of 4728 N. Olcott Ave. "a revolving door" purchases prior to a drug bust Nov. 8. | Contributed photo
Updated: January 7, 2013 6:26AM
HARWOOD HEIGHTS — An extensive investigation by the Harwood Heights Police Department has led to drug charges against five people.
Working off an anonymous tip, officers monitored activities at a home in the 4700 block of North Olcott Avenue, said Cmdr. John DeVries.
“We saw several young kids coming and going,” DeVries said. “There was a lot of traffic near the rear of the building.”
Officers learned several minors frequenting the building were students at Ridgewood High School, DeVries said.
Ridgewood High School Superintendent Robert Lupo said the district is cooperating with police.
After securing sufficient evidence, officers executed a search warrant Nov. 8 and made five arrests
Evelina Toleafoa, 38, 4728 N. Olcott Ave., was charged with felony manufacturing and delivery of marijuana, felony possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, endangering the life and health of a child and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Her bond was set at $35,000.
Carl Brown, 31, also of the Olcott address, was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. His bond was set at $10,000.
Toleafoa and Brown are listed as the renters of the property, according to DeVries.
Tremain Barnes, 17, also of the Olcott address, was charged with manufacturing and delivery of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of the liquor control ordinance. His bond was set at $5,000.
Christian Audante, 18, 4425 N. Nagle Ave., Harwood Heights, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, felony possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of alcohol by a minor. His bond was set at $2,000.
Ashley Frey, 18, 8292 Ainslie St., Norridge, was charged with felony possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of alcohol by a minor. Her bond was set at $2,000.
All are scheduled to appear in court Friday in Rolling Meadows.
DeVries said the activity at the Olcott building included many teens with backpacks going in and out of a side door in a matter of seconds.
“It was like a revolving door,” he said.
The operation became so brazen, DeVries said, that officers spotted cars stopping in the street, supposedly for drive-up service. Since the arrests, that level of traffic has stopped, the officer added.
Harwood Heights Police also notified the landlord and asked that the tenants be evicted.
“Through the investigation we’ve learned of several others who assisted in the operation,” DeVries said ‘We’re still looking into this.”
DeVries said securing the search warrant was difficult.
“It wasn’t easy proving that drug dealing was going on,” he said. “We had to do a lot of waiting and had to conduct a lot of surveillance.”
