Two arrested in Joliet heroin bust
By Brian Stanley bstanley@stmedianetwork.com January 25, 2013 8:02AM
Updated: February 28, 2013 6:47AM
JOLIET — Police concluded a three-month operation with the arrest of an alleged heroin dealer Thursday.
Jerald D. Shumpert, 38, and his associate, Terelle R. Clark, 35, were taken into custody about 2:15 p.m. after bringing a half-gram to undercover agents at the park at Chippewa and Iroquois streets, Metropolitan Area Narcotics Squad Director Vic Markowski said.
“Shumpert is a well-known street-level dealer for heroin in the Joliet area,” Markowski said. “With the alarming number of (fatal) heroin overdoses, he became a target for our investigations.”
Agents reportedly began buying heroin from Shumpert and Clark in November. Shumpert allegedly made seven deliveries while Clark made two.
“He had about 20 regular customers every week,” Markowski said.
Shumpert, of 14 Iowa Ave., was booked into the county jail on charges of drug trafficking. He previously has been arrested on charges of aggravated battery, home invasion and domestic battery.
In February 2001, the Joliet Narcotics Unit raided Shumpert’s then-residence on Elmwood Street to find 22 grams of crack cocaine and packaging material, reports said.
Clark, of 2213 S. Bogdan Lane, is charged with participating in a criminal drug conspiracy. He previously has been arrested on charges of battery and delivery of look-alike narcotics.
More than $1,000 in cash and a 1992 Dodge van also were seized during the suspects’ arrest.
