-from wistv.com-

By Trey Paul & Logan Smith

WEST COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - More arrests are expected in a drug bust that netted 22 people in a West Columbia neighborhood near a school and a park where children play.

In addition to drugs, police also found weapons, ammo and cash.

When News 10 went out to talk to parents living in the area, we figured they’d be shocked by the news. But as that wasn’t the case at all.

The West Columbia neighborhood is home for Tiffany Scott. And for her, seeing drug deals go down is a way of life.

“You know what they’re going to do and with the kids around you don’t want them to see anything like that, you really don’t,” Scott told News 10.

You may expect her to be surprised that police arrested 21 people at this crack house behind where she lives. They made another bust directly across the street from her.

But she says she’s not surprised — more like relieved, especially for her children.

“I feel better for them. I feel safer for them because you never know when something might go down,” said Scott.

When, Scott says, or where. The crack busts were made about a mile from a school, and just a few feet away from the park where Tiffany’s kids play.

“We’ve had some stuff go on right in these yards, not drug related, but things where somebody might pull out a gun,” Scott said.

Lately Tiffany says she’s seen more police patrols in the morning and afternoon when her kids get dropped off from school. That may seem good on the surface, but she’s afraid that could backfire.

“You don’t want to force too much stuff. That does make people rebellious when you do a lot of forcing and stuff like that,” Scott told News 10.

She says to truly fix the problem you need more than patrols.

“Maybe have activities for them, summer is coming and there is nothing for them to do but walk around,” said Scott.

Overall Tiffany says she feels safe. But she says even now, after a major drug bust, the reality is that drugs will never be that far away.

“The normal thing they go do, they go pack up and go somewhere else. It will be near here but it won’t be in the same area,” said Scott.

News 10 spoke with the West Columbia Police Department Sunday, and investigators say this is an ongoing investigation.

Police have three other warrants out and expect to make at least three other arrests.