Man Arrested During Raid Was Out on Bail

An Easton man who was arrested almost exactly one month ago during a police search of his residence and was out on bail was arrested again this morning and faces additional drug charges.

Easton police say Mark Parks Sr., 51, was arrested early this morning after heroin and cocaine were found during a warranted narcotics search of his home at 740 West Wilkes Barre St. Parks will be arraigned later today on charges of possession of heroin and cocaine and also faces charges of delivery of a controlled substance, they added.

On January 10, the same residence was raided by police, who reported they discovered approximately $10,000 worth of heroin, $3,000 worth of marijuana, and a scale at the residence. Parks was arrested and charged with  possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Police say their search is complete at the residence for now; however, they intend to obtain a  search warrant for a garage related to the investigation

Police Looking for Driver Who Led Them on Chase

Easton police are looking for the driver of a car that led officers on a chase through the city, Wilson Borough and West Easton in the early hours of Saturday morning, eventually abandoning the vehicle in which heroin which was apparently packaged for sale was found.

Police say an officer on patrol noticed a white Plymouth Voyager traveling south on South 15th Street without its headlights on just before 1:30 a.m. As police attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver turned right on Washington Street and sped away when the officer turned on his lights and siren, police said.

The minivan continued to head west and further south on several streets in Wilson Borough. The driver reportedly struck a parked car on South 17th Street but didn't stop and continued into West Easton, heading west on 10th Street, where it got ahead of police in pursuit by more than a block.

When authorities caught up with the fleeing vehicle, it was found to have struck the rear of a building at 1019 Iron St., and the officer on the scene reported seeing someone wearing either orange or pink climb a fence and flee the area.

Police say the suspect, who has not been identified, escaped, but 34 packets of heroin were found inside the vehicle. They added investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Anyone with information about the matter is asked to call the Easton Police Department tip line at 610-250-6635. Callers may remain anonymous.

Suspect in December West Ward Shooting Arrested

Jared Alvin, 18, who was named as a suspect
in the shooting of a 27-year-old man that occurred in Easton's
West Ward on December 21 has been arrested
and faces multiple charges, Easton police report.
Contributed photo

Jared Alvin, 18, who was named as a suspect in the shooting of a 27-year-old man that occurred in Easton's West Ward on December 21 has been arrested and faces multiple charges, Easton police said Friday night.

Authorities, who had been investigating and seeking Alvin's whereabouts since the shooting, found him in the area of Spruce and Raspberry streets, located between Ferry and Lehigh streets and between South 14th and 15th streets, in the city's West Ward at about 4 p.m. on Friday, January 31. He was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and Northampton County Sheriff’s Department and is expected to arraigned at at Northampton County Central Booking sometime tonight, according to a Easton Police Department media release.

Alvin, who police have formerly alleged is a suspected gang member, faces charges of aggravated assault, robbery, criminal conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, and recklessly endangering another person in connection with the shooting on Dec. 21.

Easton police said the department will also be filing charges against Alvin for narcotics violations, including possession with intent to deliver heroin and possession with intent to deliver cocaine.

Easton police said they are not currently releasing any additional information regarding the shooting or the additional narcotics charges, as investigations into both alleged offenses are ongoing.

The Easton Police Criminal Investigations Division had been working in conjunction with multiple agencies in a cooperative effort to locate Alvin, the EPD said.

Three Arrested in Simultaneous Police Raids

Three people were arrested early this morning after Easton police conducted three simultaneous raids at locations in the city's West Ward and South Side neighborhoods.

Michael Ayala, 43, and Mikaela Ayala, 29, were arrested after a warranted search by a Pennsylvania State Police Special Response Team (SERT) at 20 North Ninth St. yielded crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and $2,900 in cash, a media release from the Easton Police Department said.

Michael Ayala faces charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia, and is expected to be arraigned later today, police said.

Mikaela Ayala, who is Michael Ayala's daughter, has been charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. She was released and will be cited via summons, authorities said.

At 740 West Wilkes Barre St., Mark Parks Sr. was arrested and faces charges of possession with intent to distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Police  report they seized approximately $10,000 worth of heroin, $3,000 worth of marijuana, and a scale at the residence. Parks is expected to be arraigned later today.

A warranted search was also conducted at a garage located at 228 North 14th St. and police were in the process over the course of Friday morning searching and seizing for forfeiture four vehicles and a motorcycle related to Parks' arrest, law enforcement authorities said.

Investigations leading to the raids were conducted by the Easton Police Department's vice/narcotics unit, the department said, adding that the cases were not connected and that no one was injured during the raids.

According to online county tax records, all three of the properties that were searched by police Friday morning are locally owned with all property owners listed as residing in Northampton County.

Updated at 12:31 p.m. to clarify the familial relationship of two of those charged.

Man Arrested as Police Raid Nets Heroin and Crack Cocaine

A warranted search of a home at 1227 Spruce St. in Easton's West Ward neighborhood  by city police early this morning led to the arrest of one man and the seizure of quantities of  heroin and crack cocaine, police report.

Jaronzia Fletcher, 39, was arrested at about 6 a.m. at the residence after police found about $2,500 worth of heroin and $100 of crack cocaine, authorities said.

Fletcher will face charges of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance for the heroin and possession of a controlled substance for the crack cocaine that was found, it was added.

Police said the search was the result of an investigation that was begun in September that focused on the sale of heroin in the neighborhood.

Two Arrested in South Side Drug Raid

Easton police arrested two people early this morning during a warranted search of a home in the city's South Side neighborhood.

Authorities say Kelly Craven, 31, and Kahmir DeLapara, 20, were both arrested after the Easton Police Special Response Unit and Vice Unit discovered undisclosed amounts of heroin, crack cocaine, and marijuana at 315 Palmer St. They added the drugs were packaged in a manner consistent with intent to resell the substances.

Both were taken into custody and are going to be charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, as well as conspiracy to possess heroin.

Each is expected to be arraigned today in front of District Magistate Daniel Corpora.

Easton Police Crime Unit detectives also assisted during the search, in hopes of locating possible evidence relating to the homicide death of Amanda Stratford, which occurred on September 22 on Peach Street in the city's West Ward district , police said. No one has yet been charged in the crime.

No one was injured during the raid, police noted.

Three Simultaneous Early Morning Drug Raids Result in Arrests

Three men were arrested and illegal drugs were seized when police raided three West Ward Easton residences, authorities report.

According to a media release, at approximately 6 a.m., the Easton Police Vice Narcotics Unit, Special Response Unit and Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) executed three narcotics search warrants simultaneously at 1448 Elm St., 1418 Spruce St. and 1150 Washington St. Police say the warrants were the result of ongoing investigations into illegal drug activity over several months and that they had received complaints from  neighbors for some of the targets.

At 1448 Elm St., after a warrant was served by the Easton Police Special Response Unit, Michael Miller, 32, was arrested and will be charged with possession of methamphetamine, the EPD said.

James Pokajni Jr., 35, was arrested after the state police SERT searched the residence, and is expected to be charged with possession of drug paraphernalia relating to methamphetamine possession. Police said extra precautions were taken by officers at the house because they suspected there was a methamphetamine lab on the premises, but none was found.

At 1150 Washington St., James Duckworth, 38, was arrested after the state police SERT searched the residence. Police said the EPD Vice Unit already had a warrant for him relating to charges of delivering heroin, and that he also faces additional charges for possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver psilocybin mushrooms, and the manufacture of psilocybin mushrooms.

Police added they found a mushroom grow at the residence, along with approximately $3,000 worth of the illegal fungi, $2,200 worth of heroin, and a .22 caliber handgun.

An aggressive pitbull that was also in the Washington Street residence charged at police, but officers were able to secure it in a cage, and no injuries to either the dog or the officers resulted, police reported.

Police said Pokojni and Miller will face charges via summons, and Duckworth will be arraigned later today.

According to online county public records, the residence at 1448 Elm St. is owned by Domenic Desei of Roseto, 1418 Spruce St. is owned by James Pokajni Sr. of Easton, and 1150 Washington St. is owned by Samantha Davis, listed as living at the same address.

Updated at 1:13 p.m. to add property owners' information.

Police Arrest Two in Early Morning Drug Bust

Two people were arrested early this morning at 679 Bushkill Street, on the
edge of Easton's West Ward, and charged with various drug-related offenses.
Google Maps image

 Two people were arrested and charged with various offenses following the execution of a narcotics search warrant just after 6 a.m. this morning at a residence in the 600 block of Bushkill Street, the Easton Police Department reports.

The home's residents were also under scrutiny in relation to a shooting incident that took place last month at the intersection of Seventh and Northampton streets, authorities said. One man was arrested and charged earlier this month in that incident, but police are still seeking the second suspect.

Barbara McNeil, 31, faces charges of possession of a controlled substance and delivery of heroin, along with charges of giving false identification to law enforcement from a prior warrant for her arrest. Police say she delivered the heroin to vice detectives on a previous date.

Sean Bookman, 24, was also arrested at the 679 Bushkill St. residence. Police said he will be charged via a summons for possession of a small amount of marijuana.

The raid was conducted after a several month long investigation into heroin dealing and Bloods gang activity at the residence, authorities said. It was conducted by the EPD Vice Unit. 

The investigation is ongoing, relating to the other suspected gang members associated with the residence, they added.

In addition to McNeil and Bookman, there were six minor children in the home when police raided it, ranging in age from 1 to 16 years, police said. They were reportedly turned over to other  family members.

One police officer reportedly sustained an unspecified injury due to a fall during the operation, police said. He was reportedly treated and released on the scene.

Police added that the home is set to be investigated by the city codes enforcement office for violations related to living conditions there, but did not say what those conditions might be.

West Ward Man Arrested, Charged After Morning Drug Raid

An early morning raid resulted in the arrest of a West Ward man found with heroin and a stolen handgun, Easton Police say.

Bryan Velasquez, 21, was reportedly taken into custody at about 6 a.m. this morning while the Easton Police Department Vice/Narcotics and Special Response Units executed a narcotics search warrant at 103 North Oak St. Seized by authorites were approximately $2,200 worth of heroin, $1,000 in cash, and a stolen .380 caliber handgun, police said.

The warrant and arrest are the result of a several-months long investigation focusing on heroin sales in the West Ward neighborhood, said Lieutenant Matthew Gerould via a media release.

Velasquez is expected to be arraigned later today on charges of possession with intent to deliver heroin, receiving stolen property, violating an order not to possess a firearm, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police said no one was injured during the search and arrest.

Velasquez pled guilty to one count of possession with intent to deliver illegal drugs in 2010, and served just over nine months in prison for the offense later that year, according to online state court records.

The house on North Oak Street where Velasquez was arrested this morning is owned by Rosemary Velasquez of the same address, according to online county property records.

Two Arrested in Easton Drug Raid Tuesday Morning

Two West Ward Easton residents were arrested and charged with illegal drug offenses after Easton Police raided the residence early this morning.

Police say Esteban Candelario, 20, was arrested and charged with possession of heroin with intent to deliver, after they executed a search warrant at a residence in the first block of South 14th Street at about 6 a.m.. He is expected to be arraigned later today.

Lillian Werkheiser, no age given, was arrested and charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana, police reported. She has been processed and released, and will receive a summons by mail to answer to the charge, authorities added.

The Easton Police Department said the investigation was prompted by neighbor complaints regarding a high level of drug activity in the area.   Nobody was injured during the  search, which was carried out by the Easton Police Vice Narcotics Unit and Special Response Unit.

NJ Undercover Operation Results in Drug Charges for Easton Man

Jermaine Grant
Photo courtesy of the
Hunterdon County
Prosecutor's Office

An Easton man is one of 47 people charged with possession of heroin or intent to distribute the illegal drug, Hunterdon County New Jersey Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns III announced today.

Jermaine Grant, 26, of Easton, faces unspecified charges as part of a 10-month long police operation that aimed to disrupt heroin trafficking in Hunterdon County, NJ, the prosecutor's office reported.

"Operation Day Tripper" targeted heroin traffickers and consumers who allegedly traveled regularly, some daily, to and from "source" cities, including Newark and Trenton, NJ, as well as Easton, for their illegal drugs, the prosecutor's office said.

A media release announcing the busts did not name the specific charges Grant faces.

Kearns also said that Hunterdon County is a gateway for drug distribution in New Jersey, due to Interstate 78 running through it, and the area has also seen a "dramatic spike" in gang activity.

“We aren’t going to sugarcoat this. This county has drug dealers, drug addicts, and street gangs, and they are affecting the quality of life here,” Kearns added in the release.

Two Arrested After Simultaneous Drug Raids

Two men were arrested early this morning when The Easton Police Vice Narcotics Unit, Special Response Unit and the Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team executed two narcotics search warrants simultaneously at 217 Orchard St. and 667 Northampton St., Apt. 3.

Thomas Pollard was taken into custody at the address near the edge of the West Ward and charged with delivery of heroin on an existing arrest warrant, police said in a media release.

Authorities added that heroin was additionally found the address, and Pollard is expected to face the additional charge of possession of heroin as a result.

Troy Myers, taken into custody by the EPD Special Response Unit at 217 Orchard St. in the city's Southside, is to be charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine, after police found crack cocaine at the residence, the media release said.

The arrests and charges are the result of an EPD Vice Unit investigation that targeted street level drug dealers in Easton, police added.

Palmer Heroin Raid Leads to Arrests

Palmer police report they, along with members of the Easton Police Department and the Northampton County Drug Task Force, executed a search warrant at a home located at 98  Jonathan Drive in the township at about 6 a.m. this morning, simultaneously with a related search in the City of Easton.

The raid was the result of an ongoing investigation into an alleged heroin distribution ring that authorities believed was operating at the house, and a search of the residence recovered undisclosed amounts of heroin and cash, as well as "numerous items of drug paraphernalia", according to a media release issued by Palmer police.

All three residents of the home were taken into custody at the scene and detained, authorities report, but their names were not released, with police citing a still-ongoing investigation.

Possible charges that may be filed against them are yet to be determined, said Palmer Detective James Alercia.

The Easton Police Emergency Response Team, Forks Township Police Department, and Suburban Emergency Medical Services Regional Tactical Team also assisted at the scene, police said.

Updated at 3:43 p.m.

Four Suspected Gang Members Arrested in Raid - Heroin, Cash, Gun Seized

Four people were arrested in a raid in Easton's West Ward early Friday morning that police say netted approximately $1,700 worth of heroin, $6,382 in cash, .38 caliber handgun with the serial number obliterated, and Bloods gang paraphernalia.

At approximately 6 a.m., the Easton Police Vice/Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at 213 North 8th St., where they found Anthony Thomas, 24, Andry Deloach, 22, Nicholas Alleyne, 22, and Danny Manning, 25, inside attempting to hide from police, according to a media release.

The raid was the result of an ongoing investigation into an alleged heroin distribution ring in the West Ward area of the city, police said, adding that all four suspects are originally from the Plainfield, NJ area and are suspected Bloods gang members.

Police report all four were arrested and are expected to be arraigned later today on the following charges:

• possession with intent to distribute heroin
• manufacturing of heroin
• criminal conspiracy
• possession of drug parahernalia.

Thomas will additionally be charged with being a former felon not to permitted to possess a handgun and possession of a handgun with an obliterated manufacturer’s serial number, Easton police said, adding that the department also had a prior arrest warrant for delivery of heroin for Thomas and that he is a "confirmed" Bloods gang member.

The residence on North 8th Street is listed as being owned by Magaly Ugarte, of the same address, according to online county property records.

All four suspects were arraigned early Friday afternoon in front of Senior District Magistrate James Stocklas and committed to Northampton County prison after failing to post bail, set at a straight $35,000 for three of the defendents, and at a straight $85,000 for Thomas due to the weapons charges.

In conjunction with this morning's raid, the EPD Special Response Unit also assisted the Northampton County Drug Task Force in executing a narcotics search warrant at 98 Jonathan Drive in Palmer Township, which was served simultaneously, the media release said.
Updated at 2:32 p.m. to add arraignment and bail amount details, and again at 3:45 p.m. to add a link to the details of the second raid in Palmer.

Two to Be Charged After Drugs Raid

Two Easton residents will be charged with various illegal drug offenses after the Easton Police Department Vice/Narcotics Unit executed a narcotics search warrant at their home at 1051 Northampton St., Apt. 1, around 6:10 a.m. this morning, police report.

Nicholas Maietta was arrested and will be charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin, three counts of possession and possession with intent to deliver  oxycodone related to past sales to the EPD Vice Unit, and with possession of drug paraphernalia. He is expected to be arraigned later today, police said.

Brittany Sember, who was released, will be charged with possession of drug paraphernalia--a digital scale and pipes--via a summons, authorities said.

While searching the home, detectives say they found heroin with an estimated value of $2400, a small amount of marijuana and prescription medicine that was not prescribed to the occupants.

Heroin was in close proximity to a two-year-old child that also lives at the dwelling, they added.

Police noted that a pitbull was also in the home at the time of the raid. No one was injured during the search, they reported.

Northampton County Children and Youth Services have been notified of the situation involving the child, police also reported.

Police Seize Heroin at Ferry Street House During Raid

Easton Police seized about $1,000 worth of heroin and arrested a local resident during a search of a house in the 600 block of Ferry Street early this morning, the department has announced.

At about 6 a.m., members of the city's vice and special response units executed a narcotics search warrant at 679 Ferry St., Apt. 1, according to an EPD press release.

Arrested at the scene was Alonzo Watts, 46, who was the target of a several-months long investigation for drug dealing, police say. In addition to the search warrant, authorities also had a warrant for Watts' arrest, they added.

Watts is expected to be arraigned later today on charges of possession with intent to deliver heroin and criminal use of a communication device.

The Ferry Street property is owned by Abreu Anibal, of Easton, according to a search of online Northampton County property records.