Crime News

Police: Drug Dealer Threw Money Out Window

Two arrested for possession with intent to deliver in South Bethlehem last week.

  One of two men charged in a Bethlehem drug bust Wednesday afternoon was throwing things before and after police arrived at his residence. David Soto Jr.,18, told police that before they arrived at his home at 611 Broadway, Apt. 3, he threw about $1,300 out the window. And as a detective approached him, he threw a small white object in the air. That object was a “brick” containing about 50 glassine packets filled with suspected heroin, court records say. About three hours before – and about a block away – police arrested a Whitehall Township man after they saw him entering a vehicle and “holding up items to his nose to sniff them.” That man was Andrew Howells, 25, of 3265 Clay St. in the Hokendauqua section of Whitehall. The criminal …

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Crime News

Police: Suspicious UPS Package had Methamphetamine

Allentown man who picked up UPS package containing suspected methamphetamine is facing drug charges, according to court records.

  A package with green plastic wrap and a white, crystal-like substance inside caught the eye of a UPS employee in Bethlehem Township Thursday. The employee tipped off police, a man picked up the package Friday morning at the shipping company, and police arrested him at his parked vehicle outside the office at 2301 Highland Ave. The package contained two pounds of the drug methamphetamine, court records say. The records did not give the drug’s value. The suspect, Jorge Rosario Aquino, 40, of 808 N. 6th St., Allentown, was charged with possession with intent to deliver – a felony – and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Participating in the bust were state police Cpl. J.M. Casciano and Bethlehem Township police investigator …

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Crime News

City Man Charged with Dealing Heroin

Confidential police informant bought heroin from Golden on High Street, police allege.

  A Bethlehem man accused of selling heroin to a confidential police informant is facing a criminal charge, according to court records. Nicholas Golden, 22, of 137 E. Washington Ave., allegedly sold the drugs to the informant on the 1600 block of High Street on the afternoon of March 7. The transaction was observed by Bethlehem police’s Special Operations and Vice Unit, according to the arrest warrant. Golden was formally charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin on Friday. He was committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bail following his arraignment before night duty District Judge Joseph Barner of Lower Nazareth Township.

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Crime News

Bethlehem Man Charged with Selling Cocaine

Suspect was arrested after allegedly selling cocaine to confidential informant in SouthSide.

  A Bethlehem man was jailed for allegedly selling cocaine to a confidential informant two months ago, court records say. Dwayne Love, 41, is accused of making the delivery on the the 400 block of Wyandotte Street on January 4, receiving $40 in marked bills in return. Police detained Love when the marked bills were found in his possession, records say. Love was taken to police headquarters where, after waiving his rights, he admitted delivering cocaine to the confidential informant, according to the arrest warrant. Love was arraigned Tuesday on a charges of possession with intent deliver in front of District Judge Nancy Matos Gonzalez and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $75,000 bail.

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Crime News

2 Arrested in SouthSide Drug Raid

Two alleged drug dealers from E. Fifth Street nabbed by city police vice unit.

  Two Bethlehem men admitted to police during a raid of their SouthSide residence Thursday that they have sold heroin, according to court records. The suspects are Anthony Fernandez-Castillo, 26, and Jorge Luis Marrero-Rodriguez, 41, both of 806 E. Fifth St. The police raid was at 6:41pm. A criminal complaint filed by Jason L. Hammer of city police’s special operations vice unit said police found heroin, an unspecified amount of money and a cell phone in Fernandez-Castillo’s possession. Found in Marrero-Rodriguez’s possession was heroin, cocaine, a cell phone, an unspecified amount of money and a hypodermic needle. In written statements, Fernandez-Castillo admitted the heroin belonged to him and “to selling amounts of heroin.” Marrero-…

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Crime News

City Woman Charged with Selling Cocaine

Rockland Street woman accused of delivering cocaine to a neighbor.

  A city woman was charged with possesion with intent to deliver after allegedly dropping of cocaine to a residence in Bethlehem. Raven Veanus, 22, of 826 Rockland Street delivered an unspecified amount of cocaine to a residence in the 800 block of Rockland Street on May 25, according to court records. A confidential informant received the cocaine and turned it over to Bethlehem Police, according to the arrest affidavit. Veanus was arraigned Wednesday before District Judge Patricia Romig-Passaro and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail.

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Crime News

Allentown Man Charged with Dealing Drugs, Fleeing Police

Vincent Batista is accused of evading capture after selling heroin to undercover officer.

  An Allentown man is charged with possession with intent to deliver, avoiding apprehension, and eluding police after allegedly escaping a drug bust. Vincent “Vinny” Batista, 37, met with confidential informants, setting up a drug buy in the 1200 block of Steel Avenue on February 15. Batista delivered an unreported amount of heroin to officers conducting a buy and bust operation, according to the arrest warrant. However, he allegedly fled from police, escaping in his vehicle. Officers found and arrested Batista on February 21. A preliminary hearing is scheduled March 8 with bail set at $100,000 following his arraignment before District Judge Patricia Romig-Passaro.

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Man and Woman Charged with Selling Cocaine

Suspects allegedly sold cocaine to confidential police informant.

  A Bethlehem woman and a Fountain Hill man have been charged after selling cocaine to a confidential police informant Wednesday night just east of the North Side downtown, according to court records. The man, James Mitchell, 44, of 921 Seneca St. also was charged with resisting arrest during the incident, which occurred around 9:40 p.m.   And he was charged in an earlier incident with selling an unspecified amount of cocaine to a confidential informant for an unspecified price. This incident allegedly occurred at 11:11 p.m. December 6 in the parking lot of the Wendy's at 306 Broadway. In Wednesday's incident, the records say that Mitchell and Sondra Brown, 51, of 911 Mechanic St., second floor, sold an unspecified amount of cocaine for an…

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Police: Suspect's Mouth was Stuffed with Marijuana

Noel Pagan was wanted on three domestic violence warrants before his arrest on Tuesday.

  When Bethlehem police finally caught up with a man wanted on three outstanding domestic violence warrants – one going back more than two years -- his mouth was stuffed with a zip-lock sandwich bag containing 18 smaller bags filled with marijuana, according to court records. Noel Pagan, 33, whose latest address is listed as 51 W. Spruce St., was taken into custody at 4:16pm Tuesday at 70 W. Goepp St. – about a block from his home. That address is identified in one of the warrants as the home of his ex-girlfriend’s mother.   In addition to the marijuana, Pagan was in possession of $40 and a cell phone, the records say. He was charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana. Bail was set at $25,000 and he was committed to …

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