5 arrested in drug bust

After four months of investigation, the Bloomington Police Department arrested five individuals early Thursday on drug charges and removed six children from the suspects’ residence.\nJoseph W. Williams, 26, Jonathan C. Williams, 24, Antonio A. Taylor, 20, and Richard A. Simmons Jr., 27, face preliminary charges of conspiracy to deal cocaine, dealing cocaine and criminal gang activity. Morningstar Brisbon, 26, faces preliminary charges of maintaining a common nuisance.\nAfter the Critical Incident Response Team served a search warrant on the suspects’ residence, located at 4790 E. State Road 45, they found six children, ranging in age from four months to seven years in the house, according to a Bloomington Police Department press release. Child Protection Services took custody of the children, who were all related to either the woman or one of the men. \nThe initial investigation began in 2007 where officers conducted 15 controlled buys from the suspects, according to the press release. Each of the males arrested were observed dealing drugs.\nAfter the Critical Incident Response Team gained entry to the house, they seized about one ounce of crack cocaine, a small quantity of marijuana and $1,500 in cash, according to the press release.\nAll of the suspects were arrested at the scene.\n“This investigation has revealed yet another group of individuals who have come from out of town for the sole purpose of dealing crack cocaine in our community,” said BPD Capt. Joe Qualters in the press release. “Hopefully, sometime soon the message will reach those other communities that Bloomington is not the place to go to deal drugs.”