Suspected Drug Dealer Operated Near Downtown

Bethlehem police on Tuesday obtained an arrest warrant for a suspected drug dealer who has allegedly been operating out of an apartment just east of the downtown, according to court papers.

Charges against John E. Scipio of 113 E. Union Blvd. were filed after three confidential informant drug buys over the last three months and a search of his third-floor apartment Tuesday afternoon, the arrest affidavit says.

In the raid, police found crack cocaine, marijuana, digital scales and packaging materials, court papers say.

The warrant says the Bethlehem Police Department’s Vice Unit began investigating Scipio and the sale of crack cocaine from his apartment in August.

On three separate occasions -- Aug. 29, Sept. 18 and Oct. 16 -- a confidential informant met with Scipio to purchase crack cocaine, the affidavit says.

In each instance, prerecorded cash was exchanged for crack cocaine at the intersection of High Street and E. Union Boulevard, not far from Scipio’s apartment., the warrant says. The presence of crack cocaine was later confirmed through field testing kits.

Scipio, who had his 53rd birthday Tuesday, was charged with three counts each of delivery of crack cocaine and criminal use of a cell phone and two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. All of the charges are felonies.