INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis detectives are on the hunt for a man they describe as one of the city's most prolific and violent heroin dealers.
The target of the investigation remains at large, and police haven't released his name or picture.
One narcotics detective says sources have told him the dealer was moving as much as $50,000 a week worth of heroin.
A SWAT raid on the 3200 block of Emerson Avenue didn't turn up the suspect, who had just fled. Police did find two young women inside the residence. The lead investigator on the case said the dealer is suspected of using upward of a dozen women to sell his drugs – keeping them high and dependent on heroin. Leaving, they said, wasn't an option.
"The victim made a report that she was trying to leave and was moving out," police said. "He called her to come get her stuff and he knocked her out, criminally confined her and was shooting her up with drugs. It's pretty shocking."
Weeks before police arrived with search warrants, an undercover informant made several controlled buys from the residence. Over the past eight years, police say the informant has purchased heroin for police more than 800 times.
"It's hitting all kinds of neighborhoods, suburbs, low-income homes," officers said. "It doesn't matter. I've seen pregnant females selling and dealing drugs."
Police arrested two young women and a young man, all from the Crawfordsville area. Police say much of the heroin sold on North Emerson Avenue finds its way back to Crawfordsville.
This is Part 1 of a two-part series. To see Part 2, click here.
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