Drug Bust at Attleboro Business Prompts Neighborhood Petition [VIDEO]

A group of Attleboro residents have signed a petition asking that the city revoke the license of a local business that was raided by police during the city's biggest drug bust in history. 

A total of 17 residents, most of whom live on Colvin Street, signed a petition to revoke the Class 2 Auto License of Iyana Auto Sales, located at 116 Dickens St. of heroin, worth approximately $500,000, from the shop in February. 

"We believe that many past infractions of license combined with the current event of illegal substances, specifically heroin, being found on the property rises to the level to constitute a depreciation of property values in the neighborhood that warrants a revocation," the petition stated. 

Candy Vicente, daughter of Basilio Quinones-Rosario (one of the three men arrested in the drug raid), along with Attorney David Manoogian, went before the Attleboro City Council Tuesday night to defend the auto shop's license. 

City Councilor Brian Kirby said the council may need to wait for the criminal activity of the case to be heard and decided upon by the court before making a decision, but added that he believed the council needs to look at the neighbors' concerns and the activity that occurred at the auto shop. 

"What is going on there certainly creates an issue for the residents," Kirby said.

 "I disagree," Councilor Kimberly Allard said. "A trial can take years. We are not making a decision on whether Candy's father did it or did not."

For Councilor Walter Thibodeau it was not a question of whether Vicente's father was guilty of crime, but whether Vicente (who said she was unaware of the drugs) is responsible for her employees' actions.  

"As the owner, who was on the license as we have granted it, are you responsible for your employees?" Thibodeau asked. 

"I am responsible for them to make sure everything is running correctly," Vicente said.   

 "What we have to consider here is as their employer you're running the business in a proper way so to not make it a deterrence in the neighborhood," Thibodeau added.

After the meeting, Manoogian said the council needs to make a judgment call on whether the business has depreciated property and home values, not whether Vicente is responsible for her employees' actions. 

"They are all appropriate questions except their position with agency," Manoogian said after the public hearing. "By agency they are saying you have to be responsible for your employees' actions."

The public hearing was closed and the matter will go before the committee.