Eight Arrested in Downtown Narcotics Raid

The Easton Police Department has announced that eight people were arrested in a drug raid Wednesday evening at 613 Ferry St.

The EPD Vice/Narcotics Unit had been investigating local heroin and crack sales and also acted in response to numerous neighbor complaints taken about theproperty in the last several weeks, they said.

After conducting a warrant search at about 6:55 p.m., about $300 worth of crack cocaine was recovered from the residence, police reported.

Police also said suspected drug dealers who did not reside at this property were utilizing it for the sale of narcotics.

"Numerous dealers were utilizing this property at different times throughout the day. The renters were suspected of allowing dealers to sell at the property in exchange for narcotics," police said in a press release.

Arrested were:

• Eric Ellerbe, 22, of Brooklyn, NY, charged with possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine, a felony
• Daniel Young, 33, of Bethlehem Township, on an EPD warrant for tampering with evidence and possession of heroin
• Daren Philhower, 44, of Bangor, for possession of drug paraphernalia
• Benjamin Harris-49, of Easton, for possession of drug paraphernalia
• Eugene Evans, 47, of Easton, for possession of drug paraphernalia
• Miguel Rodriguez Rodriguez, 37, of Easton, for possession of drug paraphernalia
• Benjamin Peeples, 73, of 613 Ferry St., Easton, for possession of drug paraphernalia
• Lisa Griffin, 50, of 613 Ferry St., Easton, for possession of drug paraphernalia

Ellerbe and Young are in police custody and will be arraigned on the charges this evening, police said.

The others were released and will be charged by summons for misdemeanors as listed, they said.

The investigation is ongoing, police added.

Update, Thursday, October 18, 2:25 p.m.: Ellerbe and Young were arraigned before on-call District Judge Joseph Barner in Lower Nazareth Township Wednesday night and sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of bail, set at $25,000 for Ellerbe and $2,500 for Young.

The house at 613 Ferry St., which was the site of an alleged altercation that led to the fatal stabbing of  William Thompson in July, is owned by Antoinette Boutros of Palmer Township, according to Northampton County property records.