BUFFALO, NY — Law enforcement in Western New York have arrested four people in connection with a trans-national drug operation.
Investigators say the Erie County Sheriff's Narcotics Unit was conducting a surveillance when they encountered an additional suspect on April 11. The narcotics unit attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Alexander Ruof-Brown at Eggert and Eldon streets in Buffalo. They say Ruof-Brown tried to run over an officer and continued driving with three children and a female passenger in the car. He eventually stopped and fled on foot. He was arrested a short time later by Buffalo Police officers.
Police say they found marijuana and cocaine in Ruof-Brown's vehicle. He was charged with criminal possession of a narcotic with intent to sell, criminal possession of a narcotic and criminal possession of marijuana. He is also facing charges for fleeing a police officer, endangering the welfare of a child and several other charges.
Following that pursuit, narcotics officers executed a search warrant at the home of David Hardware on Harriet Avenue. Hardware was the main target of the investigation according to officials. There, they found hundreds of pounds of marijuana and a large amount of cash. Hardware, 53, was arrested and charged with a felony count of criminal possession of marijuana.
On Thursday, police executed a search warrant on a second address for Hardware on Bennet Village Terrace in Buffalo. They found 50 pounds of marijuana at that location. They also arrested Wendy Hall, 24, and Deshawn Whims, 32, both from Jamaica. They were found to be in the United States illegally. They were both charged with felony criminal possession of marijuana.
All four suspects are currently being held at the Erie County Holding Center pending their arraignment.
The three children in Ruof-Brown's vehicle at the time of his arrest were turned over to a relative and Child Protection Services were contacted.
