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Neighbors relieved after Phoenix heroin bust

Posted at 10:02 PM, Mar 04, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-05 00:52:26-05

Neighbors in one Phoenix neighborhood are breathing a sigh of relief now that their neighborhood drug dealer is off the streets.

Investigators sounded the suspect's home near 39th and Dunlap avenues Friday and arrested Robert Blackwell, taking guns and drugs out of his home.

Neighbors say living next door to a suspected heroin dealer is far from ideal.

"I got kids, my neighbor has three little kids, and they got two kids," said Carl Reid, neighbor.

"We pay a lot of money for where we are, we pay taxes. And I'd like my kid to be able to ride around the corner to see his friend," said Reid.

Neighbors say Blackwell has been a troublemaker ever since he moved in.

"Lots of cars stopping over, staying 10 minutes and they are gone," said Reid.

Police say he's been running a busy heroin business inside this home.

Neighbors have tried talking to him.

"I was like, 'What's the deal? Your yard looks really nice.' He's like, 'None of your business,'" said Reid.

That response didn't cut it when police showed up.

In the last nine months, investigators have cleaned out Blackwell's supply and arrested him twice.

The first time was in June 2015. Several guns and $6,000 worth of heroin and meth were found hidden in compartments inside the home.

Then in September, more guns and drugs were found. After that arrest, a judge lowered his bond from $25,000 to $5,000, allowing him to get out of jail and continue selling out of his home.

But Friday, Blackwell's luck ran out. The cops showed up again and found a semi-automatic handgun and $2,500 worth of heroin inside his house.

Blackwell did not have much stay about his arrest. "Go away, no comment," he said.

Police took him to jail, where this time, he won't be able to get out.

A judge won't be able to set bond this time because Blackwell was arrested while he was out on bond on his other open cases.

Court records show Blackwell has a lengthy criminal history with 21 different arrests and spent three years in prison for armed robbery and drug convictions.