This drug raid in Barre on December 19, 2006 was the biggest drug sweep ever conducted in Vermont and Barre was at the very heart of it.

The above article was cut from the The Barre Montpelier Times Argus front page of 12/20/06. 

Here is an alphabetical list of arrests and charges:

BARIL, Marie, age 36 of Barre - Sale of Cocaine (2)*
BASHAW, Merrill, age 56 of Montpelier - Aiding in the Commission of a Felony
BATCHELDER, Jason, age 22 of Barre - Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine
BIRCHARD, Matthew, age 22 of Barre – Possession of Marijuana > 1 lb.
CULTRERA, James, age 40 of Barre - Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (Federal)
ELLIS, Charles, age 41 of Northfield - Sale of Cocaine (1)
FACINI, Christopher, age 21 of Barre - Sale of Marijuana (2) / Sale of Cocaine (2)
GLASER, Frederick, age 36 of Barre - Sale of Cocaine (2)
GRIFFITH, Rodney, age 37 of Montpelier - Sale of Cocaine (2) / Illegal Sale of a Firearm
HERNANDEZ, Laura, age 51 of Williamstown - Sale of Heroin (2)
HIGGINS, Amy, age 48 of Barre - Sale of Cocaine (1)
HOJOHN, David, age 22 of Barre - Sale of Cocaine (5) / Possession of Cocaine (1)
INGRAM, Kelly, age 21 of Barre - Aiding in the Commission of a Felony (2)
LAFRANCE, Brian, age 38 of Berlin - Sale of Cocaine (2)
LAPOINT, Gary, age 28 of Barre - Sale of Marijuana (1)
LESSARD, Dennis, age 52 of Barre - Sale of Cocaine (2)
LOOMIS, Jeremy, age 31 of Barre - Aiding in the Commission of a Felony
ORTIZ, Jose, age 48 of Montpelier - Aiding in the Commission of a Felony (2)
PECOR, Wayne Jr., age 18 of Washington - Sale of Cocaine (1)
PERKINS, Chad, age 24 of Barre - Sale of Cocaine (2)
RICARD, Suzan, age 47 of Barre - Aiding in the Commission of a Felony (2)
RUSSELL, Jeffrey, age 27 of Montpelier - Sale of Cocaine (3)
THORTON, Kirk, age 42 of Quebec - Possession of Marijuana > 1 lb.
TOM, David, age 22 of Barre - Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine
WHITTEMORE, Mona , age 38 of Barre - Sale of Cocaine (1) / Aiding in the Comm. of a Felony
*(denotes # of counts)

Drug investigations will be ongoing to reduce the spread of illicit drugs throughout the City of Barre. More arrests are expected in the coming days.

Anyone with information on the ongoing use and sale of drugs is encouraged to call the toll free tip line at 1-866 NO HEROIN (664-3764) or the Barre Police Department at (802) 476-6613.