12 people from the Hudson Valley were arrested following a joint investigation into the sale of heroin in Orange County.

Wednesday, City of Newburgh Police Narcotics Unit and the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team conducted a 5-hour operation addressing narcotics distribution in the Carpenter Ave area of Newburgh.

The following individuals were charged with misdemeanor heroin possession.
David Dunne, 39, New Windsor
Michael Alexander,32, Town of Newburgh
Denise Artaud, 41, Washingtonville
Charles Altobello, 59, Town of Newburgh
Casey Espinosa, 37, Walden
Rena Lee, 53, Town of Newburgh
Arthur Chiusano, 23, Beacon
Robert Soltysiak, 23, Wappingers Falls
Nicholas Colella, 29, Walden
Roman Santana, 53, City of Newburgh
Thomas Rickey, 46, City of Newburgh
Sherwood Reed, 62, Pine Bush

Police expect to make more arrests related heroin sales in the area.

Police say 30% of the arrests are from people outside of the City of Newburgh area.

“Buyers must be aware that if they come into our city to purchase heroin they risk a high probability of being held accountable for contributing to the damage done to neighborhoods that are effected by drugs,” Chief Daniel Cameron said in a statement.

“Money from narcotics purchasers fuels the drug trade and destroys the quality of life in our cities. The narcotics epidemic must be attacked at every level and I applaud the City of Newburgh Police Department and New York State Police for this enforcement action. Drug treatment may be an appropriate component of a disposition for an offender who is addicted to narcotics, but we will not allow either drug dealers, nor purchasers, to continue to devastate our cities,” District Attorney David M. Hoovler.

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