Area police arrested 11 alleged drug dealers in a round-up in
the Bradford area Thursday.

“The arrests that occurred Wednesday and Thursday are the result
of several months of investigation by the Drug Task Force,” said
McKean County District Attorney John Pavlock, who heads up the task
force. “We’d like to thank the Street Crimes Unit and Emergency
Response Team for their help and making everything go
smoothly.”

The McKean County Drug Task Force, in cooperation with the
Bradford City Police Street Crimes Unit and Emergency Response
Team, have arrested 14 people on drug-related charges this past
week.

Four warrants are still outstanding from Thursday’s sweep in
which 16 officers took part, according to an officer of the Drug
Task Force.

All suspects were arraigned before District Judge Rich Luther on
Thursday and committed to McKean County Jail in lieu of bail.
Preliminary hearings in all of the cases have been scheduled for
July 14 before District Judge Dom Cercone.

Suspects arrested in the case were Thomas William Barnes, 42, of
304 East Main St.; Harley Blue Sellers, 30, of 19 1/2 Chautauqua
Place; Mitchell Harrison Gross, 32, of 77 Rockland Ave.; Richard B.
Griesbaum, 24, of Jackson Ave.; David Michael McGarry, 21, of
Jackson Avenue; Shandon Noah Langianese, 19, of 23 Constitution
Ave.; Jacquelyn Suzann Horton, 19, of 12A Kiwanis Court; Russell G.
Passauer Jr., 67, of 425 E. Main St.; Jeffrey M. Bartholomew, 36,
of 6 Kiwanis Court; Rico P. Bizzak, 32, of 333 Chase St., Kane; and
Julie Bizzak of 333 Chase St., Kane.

Charges were as follows: Barnes has two felony counts of
delivery of a controlled substance, and two misdemeanor counts of
possession of a controlled substance. Bail is set at ,30,000 for
each of two incidents.

Sellers has two felony counts of delivery of a controlled
substance, and two misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled
substance. Bail is set at ,50,000 for each of two incidents.

Gross has one felony count of delivery of a controlled
substance, and one misdemeanor count of conspiracy to possess a
controlled substance. Bail is set at ,30,000.

Griesbaum has one felony count of conspiracy to deliver a
controlled substance, and one misdemeanor count of conspiracy to
possess a controlled substance. Bail is set at ,25,000.

McGarry has one felony count of delivery of a controlled
substance, and one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled
substance. Bail is set at ,25,000.

Langianese has one felony count of delivery of a controlled
substance, and one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled
substance. Bail is set at ,25,000.

Passauer has one felony count of possession with intent to
deliver a controlled substance, and one misdemeanor count of
possession of a controlled substance. Bail is set at ,25,000.

Bartholomew has one felony count of delivery of a controlled
substance, and one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled
substance. Bail is set at ,25,000.

Rico Bizzak has one felony count of conspiracy to deliver a
controlled substance, and one misdemeanor count of conspiracy to
possess a controlled substance. Bail is set at ,25,000.

Julie Bizzak has one felony count of conspiracy to deliver a
controlled substance, and one misdemeanor count of conspiracy to
possess a controlled substance. Bail is set at ,25,000.

“The three different teams working together are making each
other work better,” commented Bradford City Police Chief Mike
Close. “Countywide, everybody is on the same page with the same
goal and the resources are pulling together to make the Bradford
area a better place.”

Close also added that he hopes that all of the recent success by
the Drug Task Force will urge people to come forward with
information leading to more arrests. Bradford City Mayor Tom Riel
concurred.

“This is only a portion of the people dealing drugs in our
community,” said Riel. “The help of the public is greatly
appreciated. It should be known that we have a zero tolerance
policy for drug dealers in Bradford.”

The police department’s confidential tipline, at www.cityofbradfordpolice.com
is open to public tips. Riel pointed out that the tipline is
completely confidential and is untraceable.