Drug Investigation Nets Nine More Arrests

By Lauren Rosenthal

Thursday, October 24 2013

Nine people were arrested in Unalaska Wednesday during a day-long drug bust.

Deputy Police Chief Michael Holman says the operation started around 12:45 p.m. and concluded around midnight. Officers executed ten search warrants, following up on new leads from an undercover investigation into drug sales over the last few months.

With assistance from a police dog and K-9 officer flown in from Sand Point, Unalaska police searched a Radiant Heating Fuel Services truck and the offices at Tradewinds Apartments. They also combed through a private residence at Tradewinds.

Officers mostly found meth, along with some heroin and bath salts. In addition, Holman says police seized “multiple firearms and a substantial amount of cash."

The department is still processing evidence from yesterday's searches. Holman says police have eight more warrants to serve today, which could result in more arrests.

The nine defendants arrested on Wednesday will make their first appearances in court today at 1 p.m.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Just Saying on Friday, October 25 2013:

Something the residence of this community needs to understand; there are more than just drug and alcohol problems in the community, and larger than what people realize. What went down is just the beginning, and we would be foolish to think otherwise.
Yes, there are other serious issues this community puts up with, and as others have commented, the liquor establishments here are responsible for a lot of the alcohol problems, DUI’s, life threatening events caused by alcohol, and it is time the Mayor, City Council, and police department, along with people of this community, start holding those establishments partly responsible.
Unisea is the biggest contributor to the alcohol problems and held responsible. There may seem to be “a blind eye” turned, because of the link to the fishing industry. As I said, the Mayor and city Council you should be held responsible if you don’t look long and hard at this issue.
These drug dealers, users, are repetitive abusers, and will not stop until aggressive processes are implemented. These drug dealers, users, get caught, go to jail, go through rehab and pretend they have changed, only to return and start all over again. These people have no regard for anyone or anything other than the drug(s) they deal and use. They pollute this community and the kids who live in this community.
You never know who is involved in major drug dealings for many reasons, until information gathered leads in the specific direction. To think that the police should have known Stephen Rosa was a dealer, is not necessarily too but, what speaks volumes, is that Stephen Rosa had his son’s dealing for him, and even welcomed the use of drugs. If a parent is willing to have their child enter a world of drugs and of no return, then you have no regard for anything. He had a lot of people doing his dirty work, and I for one am happy that he has been taken off the streets. He, his son’s, and all those involved should go away for a long time. Residence of this community should not allow this to happen, and do everything possible to keep people like this out of this community.
Just Saying

Rukidding on Thursday, October 24 2013:

Great thing to get rid of this big problem we didnt really know about until this article was written. Don't know Stephen or anyone else named, but seems like the owners of the local bars do about ten thousand times the damage to the community in terms of alcohol poisoning, DUI, fights and brawls, domestic violence and wasted police time than these guys ever could. Just saying look at reality.

crimefighterguy on Thursday, October 24 2013:

Go superman.

pumpkin on Thursday, October 24 2013:

I would be very concerned if I were a drug dealer in unalaska right now. The community obviously will not tolerate this cancer any more. Not sure how our law enforcement is this succesfull but I think they need to give consult communities like Dillingham that are also being hurt by huge drug problems. Proud to live here and feel more safe every day... keep it up UPD.,

waytogo on Thursday, October 24 2013:

To all the negatuve posts on here you have no idea what your talking about. UPD has been awesome about getting our drug problems under control. And Steve Rosa is a career criminal / drug dealer and would not be an easy catch even for the most seasoned police agencies. This is only the start of cleaning our town up and this time we mean buisness.. way to UPD and evetyone that supported your efforts.

unalaskan on Thursday, October 24 2013:

Steve Rosa has been dealing drugs for years!!! out here and they just caught him now! lol good job UPD lets only arrest the blatantly obvious.

Encrypto on Thursday, October 24 2013:

Yeah good job upd now man up and clean up the sports bar from all the stinking drunks spilling out at all the early am hours. I have to get up at 5 am to support my family and make my way through gauntlet of stinking rotting stale beer swilling breathed winos I know are violators of the law and the cops sitting at Duncan Donuts ie Safeway sucking on their fat pills and writing smart Alec narratives for the local rag about honest citizens and the like - come on people let's move forward, together

drats on Thursday, October 24 2013:

foiled again!

uninformed on Thursday, October 24 2013:

Why are the names of these nine people not posted in this article?

Not sure about Bill... on Thursday, October 24 2013:

Twinke Man on Thursday, October 24 2013:

Hey Twinkie man, nice try at justifying drug use!

According to Bill on Thursday, October 24 2013:

Hey I had Adderol and a double expresso today = a dose of meth

Doctors prescribe Oxycontin = pharmaceutical heroin

Alcohol, cigarettes, high fat foods, and driving a car will kill and hospitalize 100 times more teens and young adults than any of these illicit drugs ever will. So parents lock up your liquor cabinet, medicine cabinet, your Twinkies, and your garage door if you want to keep your kids really safe

UPD supporter on Thursday, October 24 2013:

Thank you UPD for your continuous work to keep our community safe. 9 arrests and possibly more, plus 5 from a few weeks ago....way to go!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU.

Concerned parent community member on Thursday, October 24 2013:

Thank you Unalaska police department for trying to clean up this island! I'm sure it's helped out with the drug dog being brought in! Maybe we should have a drug dog and this happen more often and maybe there won't have to be such big busts as the last two and next one will br

Concerned Parent on Thursday, October 24 2013:

Wow, another big arrest. Good job UPS. All these arrests suggest the police are getting serious, and that drug use here is an epidemic. The community supports good police work.