Elkhart County Interdiction and Covert Enforcement Unit (ICE) is comprised of officers from the Elkhart County Sheriff's Department, Elkhart Police Department, Goshen Police Department and the Nappanee Police Departments  *** MEDIA ADVISORY *** Date May 15, 2006     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TWO ALLEGED CRACK HOUSES HIT MEDIA CONTACT:  Bill Wargo, 296-1888             On May 10th at 9:24pm and 10:20pm two search warrants were executed on two locations that were believed to be involved in the distribution of crack cocaine on the Southside of the City of Elkhart.            Officers assigned to the county-wide ICE Unit developed intelligence information about crack cocaine sales taking place at two locations. After the information was confirmed ICE officers, with the assistance of the Elkhart Police Department Special Response Team (SRT) served the high risk warrants. It was believed that the alleged dealers of crack cocaine would be armed and posed a significant threat to officers serving the search warrants.             At 9:24pm the SRT gained entry to 140 W. Garfield Ave and arrested Joe D. Bloch, age 47. Bloch has been charged with Dealing Crack Cocaine under 3 grams, a Class B Felony. Bloch is currently being held in the Elkhart County Jail on a $100,000 bond. Bloch has a previous conviction for Dealing Crack Cocaine dating back to 1987.  Bloch faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison on this current charge.             Officers located a .380 semi automatic handgun and two rifles with scopes, they also found digital scales, ledgers related to drug sales and other items associated with the sale of crack cocaine. A small amount of substance that field tested positive for cocaine was also found.            At 10:20pm the second search warrant was served at 2001 Oakland Ave., Elkhart and officers arrested James Ali Herring, age 31. He has been charged with Delivery of Crack Cocaine over 3 grams, a Class A felony. He faces a sentence of up to 50 years in prison. At that location officers found a loaded Glock 40 cal semi automatic hand gun as well as 33.8 grams of suspected crack cocaine. They also found various items associated with the distribution of crack cocaine.             Herring has prior arrests and convictions in Illinois related to the distribution of crack cocaine in that State. Herring is also being held in the Elkhart County Jail on a $200,000 bond. The street value of the cocaine found is approximately $3300.             Herring is the former owner and operator of a restaurant in the 1200 block of S. Main St called “One Stop Burgers”. This site was suspected of being a drug distribution location while it was in operation. The business has been closed for a number of months.            “These investigations are focused on interdicting the distribution of crack cocaine from so called “crack houses”, generally these locations deal in smaller amounts but do a higher volume in traffic and business. Quite often these locations are brought to the attention of law enforcement by persons living in the neighborhood who notice the high traffic flow, which creates a blight on the area”, according to Bill Wargo, chief investigator with the Elkhart County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.                            ***