Yesterday, the Altoona City Police Department and West IV Drug Task Force executed a search warrant for the residence of 1923 First Avenue, within the City of Altoona. Upon execution and securing of the premises, Wayne Bennett Jr., 26, formerly of Philadelphia and Tyrone, was arrested for four controlled deliveries of crack cocaine and marijuana sales conducted within the past two weeks.
Officers also encountered Bennett’s fiancé, Betty Jean Vaughn and four juveniles within the residence.
Upon searching Bennett, officers seized one rock of suspected crack cocaine, one marijuana blunt cigar and $559 in U.S. currency. Officers inspected the serial numbers of the money seized from Bennett, police located a $20 bill of pre-recorded “buy” money from an earlier controlled buy.
After searching the residence, officers seized a digital scale with cocaine residue, a mechanical scale used for weighing marijuana, $521 in U.S. currency, miniature zip-lock baggies used for packaging drugs, and a baggie containing 10 smaller baggies of suspected marijuana packaged for sale. Officers also seized seven cellular phones and one vehicle used while Bennett conducted the deliveries.
The investigation began a few weeks prior with the assistance of citizen complaints to the Push Out The Pushers hotline, and complaints through the Altoona Area School District. The operation was made possible with the assistance of the Office of the Attorney General (BNI) and funding provided through Operation Our Town.
Bennett was charged with seven counts of delivery, five counts of possession, four counts of criminal use of a communication facility, two counts of possession of marijuana, and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. Bennett is currently supervised by the Blair County Adult Parole and Probation Office.
Bennett was arraigned before Magisterial District Justice Auker and committed to Blair County Prison in lieu of $75,000 straight cash bail along with a parole detainer.
