YOUNGSTOWN 4 face drug charges after raids

One man sold drugs from his bicycle in the housing projects, a cop said.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Cassandra Beachum made a mistake by asking vice cops for her baby's socks.
"She was out in front of her apartment holding her baby and first asked if she could get the baby's carrier near the door," said Lt. William Powell, vice squad commander. "We refused; then she asked for the socks, saying the baby has colic."
Officers who retrieved the socks from the carrier found crack cocaine inside them, Powell said. The socks contained 18 small bags, ready for sale, he said.
Beachum's apartment at 1071 Otis St. in the Westlake Terrace projects on the North Side was raided Wednesday by the vice squad and officers assigned to the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority. Police arrested Beachum, 20, on charges of trafficking in cocaine and served her with an old theft warrant. They left the baby with a relative.
Warrant: Police next used a search warrant to enter an apartment at 1183 Otis, the residence of Calvin Findley, 38. They seized 11 doses of heroin, 60 syringes, marijuana and a loaded .25-caliber semiautomatic pistol, Powell said.
Powell said Findley's method of selling drugs has been to ride his mountain bike through the projects, delivering to his customers as he goes. Findley faces charges of trafficking in heroin and trafficking in marijuana, the vice squad commander said.
Jumpers: The vice squad also raided 1916 Elm St., where three men jumped out of first floor windows when they saw the officers. Two were not arrested. A third jumper, Samuel Dubose, 31, of Norwood Avenue, was charged with trafficking in cocaine, Powell said. Delano Richardson, 41, of Alameda Avenue, was also charged with trafficking in cocaine.
Other arrests: Old warrants for failure to appear in court were served on Jeffrey Harris, 31, of Ohio Avenue, and William Jones, 21, of Elm Street, Powell said.
Inside the apartment, police found crack cocaine on the dining room table, packaged for sale, and several large rocks of crack to be cut up. The men had been playing dominoes.
Aside from the drugs, police seized a loaded .45-caliber handgun, Powell said.
Those arrested were expected to be arraigned today in municipal court.
meade@vindy.com