About nine suspects were arrested this morning and warrants were activated for 10 others as part of multi-agency sweep at a pair of downtown public housing complexes.

The sweep was the result of a six-month investigation into drug-related activity at the John J. Barton Tower and neighboring John J. Barton Annex near East and North streets, said Lt. Marshall DePew of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s criminal gang and neighborhood impact units. The investigation was spurred by complaints from residents at the apartments.

The complexes house several elderly and disabled residents, said Bud Myers, executive director of the Indianapolis Housing Agency.

“These problems are the same problems going on in other neighborhoods in Indianapolis,” Myers said. “But these residents are more vulnerable.”

About 80 officers from several IMPD units, the Marion County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Marshals Service participated in the sweep, DePew said.

Some of the suspected drug dealers lived in off-site residences but dealt at the complexes. Other warrants were served for offenses such as assault and vandalism at the housing complexes.

DePew said the 10 suspects who were not taken into custody are wanted and will be sought out using tactics such as Crime Stoppers.