Pawtucket police said 15 people were arrested on drug and other charges in an investigation into nuisance complaints in Pawtucket.
According to police, several businesses and residents in the area of Broad and Montgomery Streets are seeing people sell and use drugs as well as hassle customers.
NBC 10 talked to one business that allegedly locks their doors when it gets dark and asks customers to call them to let them know they're there.
"We're closing the doors around 4:30 when we usually close up at 7 p.m. because we're just afraid of people coming in and stealing our stuff, or not even that, just coming in and putting us in danger," said an employee of a business on Broad St., Mateo Efstathopulos.
Many business owners didn't want to talk on camera out of fear, but Pawtucket police said they received numerous complaints from businesses and residents around Broad and Montgomery streets.
"You see a lot of fights, you see a lot of crazy people just screaming in the middle of the road," said Efstathopulos.
Police said they made a number of undercover drug buys and also searched a house on Montgomery St where they found crack cocaine, fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia.
The 15 people arrested are facing various drug, gun, or nuisance charges. The suspects range from 22 to 64 years old.
"I do feel bad for them because they're still people. I feel like they should be getting more help or more programs to get them out of the street or I don’t know more help for them. That's all we ask because at the end of the day we're all human," said Efstathopulos.
Police said the following people were arrested and charged:
Alyssa Maurelli, 34; Mary Santiago, 44; Emily Cortes, 22; Anthony Hackett, 29; Jorge Sanchez-Henriquez, 22; Angel Cordero, 45; Yeon Williams, 32; D’eangelo Vaughan, 36; John Lara, 45; Reginald Young, 64; Michael Foster, 56; Jhonathan Andrade, 25; Pryia Robidou, 23; Amar Harrison, 22; and Justin Coyle, 28.