City officials in Mount Vernon announced the arrests of 22 suspects - with six more still wanted - as part of a year-long crackdown on illegal drug sales and distribution that included a series of undercover street buys that began last month.

Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas announced the arrests at a press conference on Friday afternoon, celebrating the efforts of the police department, Westchester County Department of Public Safety; the Westchester County District Attorney’s office and their heroin task force; the FBI Safe Streets Task Force; and Westchester County Probation.

“After months of intensive police work, this group of arrests, is a great example of the collaborative efforts among the Mount Vernon Police Department, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety and our newly formed Gang, Firearms and Narcotics Bureau,” Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr. stated. “Together these collaborative efforts are making inroads into cleaning up drug trafficking in the City of Mount Vernon and Westchester County. This is only one step in our continued efforts to end the drug crisis in our communities.”'

These individuals have been arrested and are facing various drug-related charges that include felony counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance:

• Thomas Davis, 40;
• Sean Farrow, 46;
• Richard Overton, 28;
• Lawsen Riddenhour, 39;
• Sensa Velazquez, 38;
• Derrick Clarke, 35;
• Candace Brown, 57;
• Bobby Brown, 41;
• Duane Rutherford, 36;
• Turhan Jessamy, 53;
• Reginald Gallman, 34;
• Jaquan Harris, 36;
• Felicia Ash, 45;
• Dwayne Pennant, 38;
• Jocelyn Long, 27;
• Sadat Yancy, 41;
• John Ivery, 53;
• Destiny Jones, 25;
• Jonathan Long, 49;
• Gordon Tarrant Jr, 41;
• Julius Dupree, 48.

According to police, the six suspects still evading law enforcement are:

• Jamier Starks;
• Henderson Clarke;
• Johnathan Applewhite;
• Richard Bivens Sr.;
• Jermaine Cole;
• Lance Clarke.

“Mount Vernon will not tolerate the presence of individuals who damage our community and poison our streets,” Thomas said in a statement. "Cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and other illegal drugs are an epidemic that must be stopped.

“Fighting crime is a team effort and I am so thankful to the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, the Westchester County District Attorney’s office, the FBI and all other partners in law enforcement. Crime is down 32 percent in the City of Mount Vernon since 2011 and it is thanks to the vigilance, dedication, and new approach to management we have implemented.”

“Getting these individuals off the streets is a priority for the department,” Mount Vernon Police Commissioner Shawn Harris added. “Illegal drugs, pushed by a small group of people, leads to violence and gang activity which is why it’s essential to squash these dealers and end the trafficking of drugs in our community.”

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