After conducting a traffic stop, both Eckert and Walter were taken into custody and interviewed. Thank you to the many law enforcement agencies for their hard work and commitment to ridding our streets of drugs, Neugebauer said in a release. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. A Johnstown man who has been a target in two city shootings was arrested Sunday in a Blair County hotel room drug bust. 72 Drug Dealers Arrested in Latest Blair County Roundup, Send Drug and Child Predator Anonymous Tips, Community Drug Abuse Prevention Grant Program, ACRE Agriculture, Communities and Rural Environment, Pennsylvania State Coroners Education Board, Voters Rights in Effect at the Polling Places on Election Days. These individuals sold thousands of dollars in addictive, life-altering drugs, sometimes in the presence of children. The Blair County district attorney explained how this bust will greatly impact the local supply of drugs. by Ron Musselman. 16th Floor, Strawberry Square Check or add your phone numbers to the Pennsylvania Do Not Call Registry. Charges are filed against 48-year-old Scott Lapean. News / Jan 14, 2021 / 11:11 PM EST. He's set to appear In court on . Its great work by the AG and Altoona police.. 50 years ago: March 1, 1973 After going through Eckerts phone with her permission, police then found messages between her and C about an order of drugs being placed. Altoona Police say the 21-year-old and another person were bringing thousands of packets of heroin from Pittsburgh to Altoona. His office has: The Attorney General also thanked Operation Our Town for its support. / CBS Pittsburgh. 21 grams of a white powder, suspected to be fentanyl, This represents the largest seizure of methamphetamine destined for Blair County in the Countys history. Arrested on average nearly five drug dealers a day. Police showed her a potential picture of C at the Ramada Inn in Allentown where they met for the last two deals. 50 years ago: March 1, 1973 In another recorded phone call, Walter talks about how it is his fault that all the kids in the area are on meth and that it is probably his fault. And over $1,900 in cash. If you see something, say something.. Harrisburg, PA 17120, Phone: 2023 WWCP, FOX 8 - The 153 grams of heroin equals about 5.5 ounces. September 24, 2021. Thus, the Suboxone traffic goes hand in hand with opioid addiction in this area and around the state and the county, said Blair County District Attorney Richard A. Consiglio. Harrisburg, PA 17120 April 26, 2021 / 7:41 AM Two men are in custody, and efforts are underway to locate a third. The investigation is ongoing, and officials said additional charges are possible. INDIANA, Pa. (KDKA) - More than a dozen dealers are facing charges after a drug sweep in Indiana County, prosecutors . Mailing Address: 16th Floor, Strawberry Square ALTOONA Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced the arrest of 32 individuals for the sale and distribution of methamphetamine in Blair County. Todays charges are the result of a year-long cooperative investigation between the Office of Attorney General, Blair County Drug Task Force, Blair County District Attorney Richard Consiglios Office and the Altoona Police Department. Celebrating the African American holiday Kwanzaa . I would note that practically all of the dealers arrested today are street-level dealers. DUNCANSVILLE The Calvin House is going to the dogs. A forensic extraction of Eckerts phone found two phone numbers for C in her phone. She responded by saying that Walter was arrested by probation as a cover-up for the drug shipment that police intercepted. Officials on Sept. 21 would review phone calls in Blair County prison between Eckert and Walter. Authorities note that additional arrests will be announced at a later date, as a result of the investigation. Copyright 2021 WEAU. Eckert would continue to meet with officials and update them on any messages that C would send. Walter and Eckert currently face multiple drug felony counts of manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, criminal use of communication facility. Altoona police and state narcotics agents executed two search warrants at 6 a.m. Tuesday and seized $186,360 in cash, along with a large stash of suspected fentanyl and heroin, from the two homes, according to police. Eckert was brought back in to be questioned by police on Aug. 30. Eckert was brought in next to be interviewed by officials. Altoona police seized about $170,000 in suspected heroin earlier this week during an investigation into drug trafficking between Pittsburgh and Altoona, said Sgt. Miko faces one felony count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and misdemeanor counts of drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, the report stated. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Fax: Anyone with information should contact the FBI Pittsburgh office at. Officials also found that Eckert actually told C that she was working with police and that she brought up an attempt to deceive police to help Walter get released from jail. Simmons was brought into custody on outstanding warrants, and McDaniels was detained on a probation violation, court documents stated. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. What was in the sky Wednesday night in Pennsylvania? Eckert told him that it wasnt just his but both of theirs. They did not consider how their actions would ravage the lives of their loved ones, their neighborhoods, communities like Altoona, Hollidaysburg, and East Freedom, and families all across Pennsylvania. 717-787-3391. Charges are filed against 48-year-old Scott Lapean of Altoona, 32-year-old Bjonca Secora of Menomonie, 24-year-old Cameron Redroad of the Altoona area, and 31-year-old Amber Montonya of Bloomer. On Tuesday, police also seized four vehicles a 2019 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack, 2017 BMW 750li, 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2012 Nissan Murano. A brick would represent about 1 gram, according to police. Cause often times its those complaints from community members that start investigations that lead to seizures like this that have six pounds of methamphetamine and additional drugs taken off the street.. Let the District Attorney know when they see criminal activity, especially drug trafficking, Blair County District Attorney Peter Weeks said. And over $1,900 in cash. Delacruz and Wilt were taken before Magisterial District Judge Ben Jones for arraignment Tuesday and each face charges that include felony criminal conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. AG Shapiro: Statewide Meth Ring Busted, 32 Arrested In Operation Ice Breaker, Send Drug and Child Predator Anonymous Tips, Community Drug Abuse Prevention Grant Program, ACRE Agriculture, Communities and Rural Environment, Pennsylvania State Coroners Education Board, Voters Rights in Effect at the Polling Places on Election Days. Individuals with information about drugs or drug dealers in Blair County should contact the Operation Our Town Push Out the Pusher hotline at 814-693-3020. Harrisburg, PA 17120 ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) Two people are in custody in what police say is one of the biggest methamphetamine busts to ever take place in Blair County with more arrests to come. On Aug. 26 police along with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General received info that both Eckert and Walter were transporting a large amount of meth from Allentown, Pa to Altoona to be distributed, according to Altoona Police Department's Facebook post. Secora is facing suspected charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of THC (2nd+ offense), possession of drug paraphernalia, and obstructing an officer. Police say they seized nearly 10,000 packets of heroin in total from a home in Altoona and from the vehicle Prunty was in when he was arrested. NEW DETAILS: After police interviewed both Walter and Eckert, officials found that another contact named C would give the meth to them. Community / 3 days ago. Today, Sept. 23, police received arrest warrants for Erica Eckert, 43, of Altoona and Jayme Walter, 42, of Roaring Spring, who both face alleged drug charges after police conducted an investigation that took three months into possible meth distribution in the Altoona/Blair County area. Police say authorities then searched the vehicle and seized the following: Approximately 6 pounds of methamphetamine, Three people were taken into custody after police seized drugs, paraphernalia and firearms from a Cambria County . Johnstown,PA 15904, Copyright Three people were taken into custody after police seized drugs, paraphernalia and firearms from a Cambria County residence, a police report stated. Assisting in the search and arrests were the Cambria County Drug Task Force, the Cambria County SERT Team, state Attorney Generals Office, U.S. A brick of heroin is 50 packets, and according to police, a typical heroin packet sold on the street in Blair County contains about 0.02 grams of the drug. Police got a warrant for Walter's arrest since he was on parole. Walter was hesitant to speak much to police and requested to speak to an attorney. 717-787-5211 Those arrested today include: Adrian Speedwell, Nichole Merkerson-Beale, and Ricardo Cade, all of Philadelphia; Terry Bookwalter of Mapleton Depot, Mark Watson of Huntingdon,Tituscott Potts of Hollidaysburg, and Jennifer Strayer of East Freedom; Carlos Custalow Jr., Khalil Graham, Elroy Wise, Shawn Jackson, Kimberly Riggleman, Darwin Herring Sr., Troy Hicks, William Snyder II, Aleeta Queen-Dively, Barbara Bordell, Gerell Shepard, Jenna Raia, Kenneth Roberson, Justin Spanik, Rashelle Summers, Tyler Hetrick, Michael Fletcher, Gregory Betar II, Tiffany Mills, Michael Lowe, Effiann Potts, Scott Redfield, Robert Stanley, Darien Banks, and Rashawn Atkinson, all of Altoona. BRADDOCK (KDKA) -- A candidate running for city council in Braddock has found himself in trouble with the law. 4 dogs rescued, 1 injured in Foster Township fire, Weekend fire rekindles in Olyphant slaughterhouse, Lawmakers gather in effort to pass bill combating distracted driving, Woman charged with luring man shot during drug deal in Williamsport. The total monetary value of the drugs that were found amounts to over $250,000 police say. Johnstown,PA 15904, Copyright 4.6 ounces of cocaine, After the first sweep in this area, I promised to remain vigilant and keep coming back to prosecute people peddling this poison in Altoona and Blair Counties and Ive kept that commitment. Fifteen people have been arrested for allegedly operating a violent drug trafficking organization that was responsible for $20 million in drug sales in Berks County over a year's time. Please enter valid email address to continue. Its always good when you can have an investigation that targets this scope of distribution, Weeks said. Multiple cell phones, Police say that a traffic stop occurred at approximately 5:01 p.m. the same day at the 6400 block of Woodbury Pike in Taylor Township. Email: Increased arrests of doctors and other medical personnel for illegal diversions of prescription drugs by 72 percent. According to the Altoona Police Department, Jonathan Delacruz and Tori Wilt were arrested on Tuesday following the execution of two search warrants. In confiscations conducted over one week in October 2019 alone, the West Drug Task Force seized approximately 12,000 doses of meth totaling over $300,000. All rights reserved. Two people are in custody and thousands of doses of heroin and fentanyl are off the street after police in Altoona searched two properties in Altoona. "My Office has been focused on . Oct 16, 2021. 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