Staten Island Cops Grab 4 Youths, Girl On Dope Raps
By Peter McLaughlin
News photo by Jim Romano
The proprietor of a psychedelic emporium called the Celebration of the Lizard didn't have much to celebrate yesterday. Thomas Norton, 22 was under arrest on narcotics charges. So was his girl friend, Sonya Atkins, 19 a clerk in the shop at 4844 Highland Boulevard, Great Kills, Staten Island. Cops on Staten Island were pretty busy combating narcotics Friday night. Three other young people were nabbed in two other incidents.
Own Two Dogs
Norton and Miss Atkins told police they live together at 79 Armstrong Avenue, a few blocks from the store. Also living with them are are two fierce-looking German Shepard dogs - a situation that posed a problem for police raiders. The cops had been keeping tabs on Norton since September. At 6 p.m. Friday, Detectives Gerard Arnta and Vincent O'Grady, armed with search warrants, started to make their move. But they wanted to make sure the dogs were 'hors de combat'.
Spot His Car
On their way to the Norton flat, they spotted his car in front of a grocery. The dogs were in the back. Norton came out of the store and the cops identified themselves. Norton graciously locked the dogs in the car and accompanied the cops to his flat. Miss Atkins was at home. In a garbage can, the cops said, they found half a pound of marijuana and 200 pills. In a women's cosmetic case they said they found a few ounces of a white powder believed to be heroin. Aruta and O'Grady picked up another suspect when they went to Norton's shop. In front of the store was Patrick O'Shaughnessy, 18, of 201 Montreal Avenue, Oakwood, Staten Island. They thought he was acting strangely and said they found some pot on him.
Source: New York Sunday News, Sunday, November 02, 1969, page 52
By Peter McLaughlin
News photo by Jim Romano
The proprietor of a psychedelic emporium called the Celebration of the Lizard didn't have much to celebrate yesterday. Thomas Norton, 22 was under arrest on narcotics charges. So was his girl friend, Sonya Atkins, 19 a clerk in the shop at 4844 Highland Boulevard, Great Kills, Staten Island. Cops on Staten Island were pretty busy combating narcotics Friday night. Three other young people were nabbed in two other incidents.
Own Two Dogs
Norton and Miss Atkins told police they live together at 79 Armstrong Avenue, a few blocks from the store. Also living with them are are two fierce-looking German Shepard dogs - a situation that posed a problem for police raiders. The cops had been keeping tabs on Norton since September. At 6 p.m. Friday, Detectives Gerard Arnta and Vincent O'Grady, armed with search warrants, started to make their move. But they wanted to make sure the dogs were 'hors de combat'.
Spot His Car
On their way to the Norton flat, they spotted his car in front of a grocery. The dogs were in the back. Norton came out of the store and the cops identified themselves. Norton graciously locked the dogs in the car and accompanied the cops to his flat. Miss Atkins was at home. In a garbage can, the cops said, they found half a pound of marijuana and 200 pills. In a women's cosmetic case they said they found a few ounces of a white powder believed to be heroin. Aruta and O'Grady picked up another suspect when they went to Norton's shop. In front of the store was Patrick O'Shaughnessy, 18, of 201 Montreal Avenue, Oakwood, Staten Island. They thought he was acting strangely and said they found some pot on him.
Source: New York Sunday News, Sunday, November 02, 1969, page 52
