'Operation Bad Nickname' Targets Meth Trafficking Ring

LONGMONT, Colo. (CBS4) - A months-long investigation into a suspected drug dealer ended with a crash in Aurora on Tuesday night.

Police detectives in Longmont had been tracking Terry Romero for six months in what was called "Operation Bad Nickname" and tried to arrest him when it quickly turned into a messy situation.

Officers tried to pull over Romero, 31, Tuesday night and he sped away and crashed his black Mustang into four vehicles at the intersection of Parker and Peoria in Aurora.

Those other drivers suffered minor injuries.

Romero tried to run away but officers caught up with him behind a Taco Bell restaurant.

Detectives said that Romero is a known supplier of methamphetamine and cocaine mostly dealing in Longmont and other Northern Colorado towns.

Officers said they found five ounces of meth and a loaded .45 caliber pistol in Romero's Mustang. He is considered a big player in the meth trafficking ring.

"These individuals would get their meth from him and distribute it around Northern Colorado," said Longmont Police Cmdr. Jeff Satur. "Terry Romero was a very serious offender. He had multiple warrants and we consider him to be very dangerous."

"Operation Bad Nickname" has netted eight arrests and seized five pounds of meth which has a street value of $250,000.

The investigation began with tips which turned into wire taps of the suspects' phones.

"We were receiving information that a lot of meth was being dealt in Longmont and Larimer County and Greeley," said Satur.

Five stolen cars were also seized in this operation along with multiple firearms.

The narcotics investigation included officers from Longmont Police Department's Special Enforcement Unit, the DEA, the Larimer County Criminal Impact Unit and the North Metro Drug Task Force.

Authorities have also arrested Richard Mora of Greeley in connection with the case.