BIDDEFORD — Five Biddeford residents were arrested at a home on Elm Street Tuesday on drug, assault and probation violation charges as part of a new initiative by the Biddeford Police Department.

Biddeford Police announced the arrests Wednesday in conjunction with the implementation of its new Operation Safe Zone/ Safe Streets initiative.

The operation’s intent is to deter ongoing criminal activity in the city, with a specific focus on drug trafficking, Police Chief Roger Beaupre said in a press release.

Several local and state police divisions were involved in the arrests at 159 Elm St. The investigation was planned and coordinated between the BPD, Maine State Police K-9, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Marshals, Maine Probation and Biddeford Code Enforcement.

According to Beaupre, the officers acquired a warrant to search apartment 105 of the building based on information gathered from the building’s other residents who said they were concerned about drug trafficking in the unit.

Officers checked the apartment for drugs in addition to performing bail condition, probate, warrant and sex offender registry checks.

Police arrested five Biddeford residents, including the apartment’s tenant, Gregory Hoar, 32.

Hoar was charged with aggravated trafficking of Schedule W drugs after police found what they believe to be heroin and crack cocaine in the apartment in addition to materials that suggested their packing for distribution.

Hoar was transported to York County Jail in Alfred, where he was ordered held on $25,000 bail. He did not enter a plea in his court appearance on Wednesday, and was being held at the jail on $5,000 cash bail.

Also arrested was Charles Coyle, 28, on an arrest warrant for probation revocation related to a previous assault conviction. He was transported to YCJ, and bail was not made an option. As of Wednesday, he was still at the jail without bail after pleading not guilty in court.

Tonya York, 45, and Richard Putze, 56, were both arrested and charged with hindering apprehension and violation of release conditions.

York plead guilty to hindering apprehension in court on Wednesday, and was sentenced to 48 hours in jail. Putze was being held on $500 bail.

Ronald Pevear, 44, was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear in court relating to a previous assault charge. He was also charged with disorderly conduct and transported to the jail, where he posted his bail of $100.

Beaupre said this was the first execution of the police department’s initiative. He said the operation will be exercised at other locations throughout the city as officials continue to address city residents’ quality of life.

“The success of this operation should not simply be judged by the arrests made or the violations cited,” Beaupre said. “Numerous residents of the building and surrounding area supplied useful intelligence information and expressed their gratitude as officers went door-to-door in the building initiating contact with everyone present/available, and addressing quality of life issues.”

— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or [email protected].