Operation Ghostrider- 25 Arrrested on Drug and Gun Charges April 9, 2008, Nyack, NY - Written by an Inside Source

On April 9, 2008, supposedly 25 individuals were arrested around sunrise following an 8 month investigation on drugs and guns that revolved around Building 3 of the Plaza Apartment complex in Nyack, New York.

This Hub has been written and posted by an inside source in attempt to reveal the truth of what has happened proceeding, and following, these arrests. This article serves for the purpose of informative clarification without the incrimnating accusation or glorification of any one individual, group, force, or organization. I was compelled to write this article based on the ridiculous information, falsities, assumptions, and opinions that I have heard and viewed in both the news, reader comments, and the streets. So here it is from someone that has seen it from the inside, and outside, without any sugarcoating, beefing, or slant.

The recently publicly referenced "Building 3" is one of the multiple apartment buildings of Nyack, NY's Plaza Apartment complex. The "3" is simply the number that is used to reference this particular building. In the past few years a locally recognized rapper, originally from Connecticut, by the name of LDJ has gained a wide respect, fan base, and backing from those that frequent and live inside the building. Although it has been joked upon recently, yes, there are Cd's and T-shirts for purchase. The musical ventures of LDJ, (more info and links below), and his hip hop associates through songs and videos that can be viewed on Youtube is what reports have referenced as, "The Building 3 Experience". Building 3 refers to the support and backing of their local fan base and friends, as well as the location in which these people would routinely spend their time. (Also a recognized place of high trafficking volume.)

"Building 3", is NOT a gang. Whether gang members of separately self proclaimed gangs in fact frequented the area, is a separate issue. This is important to recognize, for participation as a connection point in drug trafficking, and being a member of a gang, although sometimes in co-ordinance, are two COMPLETELY different titles that entail completely different types of criminal activity. In fact, there were completely unrelated arrests that had been included in the number of 25, most likely to simplify the glorified efforts of the police department.

Preceding these arrests, drugs have in fact been avidly sold throughout Rockland County. No town is untouched, and despite what I was very surprised to see that many people thought, they are just as rampid in the towns of New City and Pearl River. In fact, New City is one of the highest revenue points for drug dealers in Rockland County. It is a town of predominantly upper middle class families. Many of the children in this town, especially those that may be perceived as "good kids", are the best customers to local dealers. Their parents give them plenty of money to spend, and they do not hesitate to use it to purchase, use, and re-sell cocaine, marijuana, many opiate derived pills, and even heroin, other hard drugs, and particularly illegal steroids. I'm sorry to inform anyone who believes that these towns are of low traffic that this is a sorely mistaken perception. Perhaps they are just towns of low profile due to the abundance of affluence, lower rate of reported violent crime, and abundance of racism in the area, which is nothing new to our country.

I was also surprised to read the lack of recognition or distain for the intense racism and alcoholism that is predominant in Pearl River. I have witnessed the free and derogatory use of the word Nigger in turn with mental and physical abuse towards people of African American decent in the community. It is important to recognize the presense of these factors in and around the towns surronding Nyack while they are pinpointed and lime lighted as they are at a time like this.

After these arrests violent crimes have dramatically hieghtened in Nyack, NY. There have been violent jumping of individuals, vandalism, brawls, assault with weapons including knives, bottles, guns, hammers, bats, and much more. Anything that has occured due to these investigations is related to 3 main things. Supposedly, according to rumor, the POLICE ACTUALLY REVEALED THE NAMES OF INFORMANTS TO THE ACCUSED AND ARRESTED CRIMINALS. There have been rumors circling relevant circles as well as jumpings. In one instance, an African American accused of being an informant was jumped by multiple younger kids, and then again attacked and beat up further up the street by a Caucasion individual, to which police responded by arresting the accused informant and actually charging him with felony assault- no help, deal, or break involved. He now faces years in prison because he was beat up and the Caucation individual was highly intoxicated and claimed to be "sucker punched", yet the the individual was being attacked when police arrived to the scene. There are witnesses to this. Something is very wrong here. Whether or not he was actually an informant is not confirmed, but it is very unlikely. It is however, likely that his abusive and abrasive ex-girlfriend was. Sucks for him. Secondly, emotions and nerves are high, and trust and rationality is low as people are violently expressing their upset, and younger children are taking the initiative to step up and make a name for themselves, as well as what they view as standing up fo their elders that have been recently arrested. They are using this as an opportunity to earn street credit, as cliche as it sounds. Now that the media has labeled them as "gangsters", "criminals", and "thugs", they have new acclaimed expectations to live up to. Thirdly, being that locally recognized dealers that preformed routinely smooth transactions have been brought down for now, many are viewing this as a opportune time of high demand and profit to hieghten in the drug game. They are therefore making new transactions with new people while tensions are already high... a very bad equation for the future. And an endless cycle. The fact is that drug use will not necessarily subside from the lower end of things despite authoraties attempts, for wherever there is demand, there will be a supply. The glorification in the press of these arrests that has been portrayed in hopes to commend the police force and show that they have a handle on the situation, have actually fueled the youth, and given them new negative standards to live up to. And we are now witnessing the affects of this.

The recently identified "mini-riot"; of April 16, 2008 that resulted in multiple stabbings, beating with bats, vandalism, jumpings, and other violence was in fact, supposedly an irrelevant incident instigated by a week and childish female who could not hold her own in a petty fight with another girl, and so she called her boyfriend and his friends from Spring Valley to come and back her up. This resulted in multiple newly found problems that hieghtened previous years of bitterness and rivalry that existed between Spring Valley and Nyack. Unfortunately, this all happened at a time when locals were at a high tension and defensively violent state of mind. This was not necessarily gang rivalry, as many reports suggest. It was based on a young girl trying to seem tough, although she could not accomplish this on her own. Please do not automatically accredit this to "Building 3", "gangs", or "drugs".

It is easy to write off a group of people as the problem. But the problem is much bigger, and extends far beyond a small group of individuals who exchanged some drugs. To pat the police force on the back and turn a blind eye will only escalate the issues. As well as condone the unfortunate racism, unlawful searches and harassment, and neglect that has been overtaking Nyack.

I was very disappointed by Rockland's County Executive Scott Vanderhoef when he made his illiterate sounding speech regarding the raids. Not that I was against the claimed intentions of the raids, but I was very disappointed to hear his attempts to glorify the arrests, which is exactly what he tried to do. (And not with much stealth at that! : ) See below for links to this statement.

"These guns and these bullet-proof vests... indicate the level of sincerity of being bad guys that the people who were arrested this morning were." -Vanderhoef Direct Quote

There were 25 arrests. And 5 guns. This is a VERY unfair public accusation. I am all for the facts being shared. But not inadequate attempts to alter the facts so to justify one's own actions... be them justified or not. It was actually frightening that this man has so much power and voice in our county. And it is no wonder that people who are not surrounded by this environment are so badly misinformed.

I bring a very small bit of light to these incidents because it is important that they are not over or under credited. It is unfortunate that most individuals who speak on this issue are from the outside. They are completely uninformed, vindicating these actions or condoning them, but either way their words are meaningless since they are not accurate. It is so unfortunate that this is all the locals, public, and higher powers have to go on. And most of the inside information officials do receive is from informants who are giving out small bits and lies in order to preserve themselves and others. Accurate identification of the issue is the first step to taking genuinely constructive action.

Apparently, the "Building 3" music video that has been referenced in the news has been recently deleted. However, you can still view a clip of it in the news link of ABC Channel 7's News Report to the right. (It includes a video of the report.)