Protestors clashed with members of the public outside Johnnie's Liquors. Watch video
BELLMAWR -- It didn't take long for the cars honking with approval nor the claims of misplaced ire to start flowing outside Johnnie's Liquor Store on Tuesday night.
The Browning Road business, which along with the Bellmawr Laundromat across the street were raided late last month in an alleged drug trafficking bust, has been the scene of repeated protests since a handful of arrests were announced.
"Stop illegal drug sales in our town," a sign held high by borough resident Linda Griffith read.
Drug trafficking probe targets businesses
Those with skin in the game and gamble that is drug use -- like Bellmawr parents Don and Bobbie Riebel who lost their 22-year-old son to a fatal overdose -- came out Tuesday to picket the business and attempt to persuade possible customers to shop somewhere else.
Not everyone was having it.
Some customers argued that it was the laundromat, and not Johnnie's Liquor, that hosted the heroin, crack cocaine, oxycodone and thousands of dollars in cash that was seized during the raids. Others simply did not want to discuss the addiction outreach literature being provided.
Store workers declined comment Tuesday. Owners Jalat Patel, 46, Rakesh Patel, 43, and Dhananjaya Patel, 48, all of Somerdale, are facing charges of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and distribution in a school zone.
On Monday, a person who answered the phone there but declined to identity themselves said there are "two sides to this story." He said any additional information would have to come from his lawyer, but would not provide the lawyer's contact information Tuesday.
Both businesses remain open and customers could be seen coming and going from both. According to philly.com, Jalat Patel's lawyer said only oxycodone was found at the liquor store and the laundromat's owner slammed the calls to close his store.
Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find NJ.com on Facebook.