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Police arrest 14 out of 16 suspects in drug sweep |
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Front Page -
Front Page Story
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Written by Tom Chapin
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Thursday, 18 June 2009 |
(From left) District Attorney Jeff Burkett, Crime Section Commander Bernard Petrovsky, Public Information Officer Jamie LeVier and Troop C Commander Kimberly Leehuis prepare to discuss Wednesday's drug sweep in the Punxsy area. (Photo by Tom Chapin)
PUNXSUTAWNEY — About 40 law enforcement officials arrested 14 of 16 sought-after individuals in a drug sweep Wednesday morning, following an eight-month investigation involving heroin, cocaine, marijuana and prescription drugs.
During a press conference held Wednesday, PSP-Punxsutawney Public Information Officer Jamie LeVier said troopers from throughout the Troop C area — as well as officers from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and Punxsutawney Borough Police — began arresting individuals around 7 a.m. from their homes or likely locations.
District Attorney Jeff Burkett said those arrested Wednesday will face felony drug charges which carry varying degrees of maximum sentences.
Trooper Bernard Petrovsky, crime section commander, said that contact had been made with one of the suspects, R. Lee Shepler, 51, Summerville, who indicated that he would be turning himself in.
LeVier described the individuals as street-level drug dealers, and that all the suspects were arrested without incident.
He said that while many of the suspects are from Punxsutawney, and may know each other, "they were not in business together."
Officers didn't collect a large amount of drugs, LeVier said, and collected no weapons or cash.
ARRESTS
Following a drug sweep Wednesday morning, District Judge Douglas Chambers arraigned 13 individuals.
Punxsutawney residents arrested in the sweep and committed to the Jefferson County jail were:
• Michael Clark, 43. Chambers set bail at $100,000 straight.
• Ronald Cook, 38; $100,000 straight.
• Ramona Dunlap, 39; $250,000 straight.
• Timothy Kerestesy, 20; $40,000 straight.
• Richard Kirby, 33; $150,000 straight.
• Robert Krolick, 21; $175,000 straight.
• Mary McCallister, 51; $10,000 straight.
• Kenneth Mitchell, 43; $250,000 straight.
• Joseph Sinclair, 23; $60,000 straight.
• John Smith, 62; $10,000 straight.
Also arrested were:
• Kenneth Geer, 40, Summerville; $125,000 straight bail.
• Brian Cook, 41, Sagamore; $125,000 straight bail.
• Ashley Wazelle, 26, Brookville; $125,000 straight.
• Diane Johns, 27, Rossiter.
Two suspects that were not arrested were Richard Jordan, 34, Punxsutawney, and R. Lee Shepler, 51, Summerville.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 19 June 2009 )
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