Earlier today, EV Grieve reported on the police-ordered closure last night of an East Village convenience store. We now have more details about what led the authorities to shutter the store — the police said that the shop’s owner was arrested and charged with possession and sale of narcotics.
The authorities said that undercover officers bought narcotics from the store on five occasions and the police issued a warrant May 28 for the store’s owner, Saleh Fadhel.
Mr. Fadhel, 31, owns 310 Deli Corp V on the corner of East Fourth Street and Avenue C, and that is where he was arrested Thursday night; the police said that four bags of narcotics were recovered at the scene. The authorities did not indicate what kind of drugs were seized.
The store remained closed today with two duct-taped signs displaying a court order and restraining order. Mr. Fadhel is scheduled to appear in Manhattan Criminal Court on June 20.