EAST ST. LOUIS • Authorities on Tuesday announced the arrest of 14 people on crack cocaine charges after a monthlong investigation at an East St. Louis park.

The joint initiative, involving East St. Louis police as well as other local, state and federal agencies, used video surveillance of Officer/McBride Park at 24th Street and St. Louis Avenue as part of the investigation.

"Neighborhood kids had not been able to play on the playground for years," Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Joe Beliveau said Tuesday before a press conference announcing the sting. "Saturday they were out here playing."

Beliveau said his department has received numerous calls from citizens thanking officers for cleaning up the park. He said during surveillance most days drug dealers did not go more than five minutes without a customer pulling up to purchase crack cocaine. He said "it was pretty much non-stop." The cameras sometimes captured drug sales while kids played nearby.

Four of those charged are believed to have been distributors of crack. Charged with unlawful possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance in a public park are:

• Clifton Williams, 35, of East St. Louis.

• Darren Phelps, 47, of Fairview Heights. Phelps was also charged with aggravated battery against a police officer whom he is accused of biting during his arrest.

• William Edwards, 28, of Centreville.

• Willie Beverly, 44, of East St. Louis.

All four are being held on $750,000 bail.

Ten other people were arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance. Each are being held on $10,000 bail. Defendants were from many jurisdictions including Belleville, Fairview Heights, Freeburg, Bellefontaine Neighbors, Cahokia and East St. Louis.

The defendants were arrested Wednesday and charged Thursday.

East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks applauded the police efforts.

"(Children) bring such life to the community," he said. "So when you can see them come and play and swing and slide and run, (playing) on the monkey bars and doing all the things that help to build them physically as well as build their social skills, it means the world to us in East St. Louis.

"Now that the police have taken back over the park, we got a place they can come and play."