Three people at a Tyrone residence were arrested as part of a police drug raid in Tyrone and Altoona on Tuesday night.
Members of the Blair County Drug Task Force including the Altoona Police, Tyrone Borough Police and agents of the Attorney General’s office including the AG’s Special Operation Group and K-9 division conducted the raids when they executed search warrants at 316 6th St., Tyrone and 713 4th St., Altoona.
Tyrone Police Chief Joseph Beachem explained why the Special Operation Group was used in this bust.
“They (the AG’s office) stressed that is not a tool we always use but it is available to us,” said Beachem. “The reason we used it in this particular operation was the threat of guns and threats against police officers.”
He went on to explain there was a threat that an occupant inside the raided locations might attempt to kill an officer as police tried to enter a residence.
“Probably the best part of the operation on the Tyrone side for me was we received (numerous) complaints from the good people who live on that street,” said Beachem. “They were calling in complaints about suspicious activity.
“What made me feel really good was when we finished this operation and we were bringing people out and taking them for arraignment, a lot of the neighbors in that area came out and thanked us and shook our hands,” said Beachem. “That was something that all made us feel really good.”
Those arrested at the Tyrone address were:
• Jamie Coleman, 316 6th St., Tyrone-one count of possession with intent to deliver, one count of criminal conspiracy, one count of possession of heroin and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia;
• James Smith, 409 Mellon Avenue, Pittsburgh-two counts of delivery of crack cocaine, two counts of possession of crack cocaine, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of drug paraphernalia;
• Warren Lyons, 7319 Susquehanna St., Pittsburgh-one count possession with intent to deliver crack, one count of possession of crack cocaine, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Arrested at the Altoona location were Raymond Gvozd and Sherry Gvozd, both of 713 N. 4th St. and Joshua Thompson of Monticello, NY. All three were arrested on one count each of delivery, possession of heroin and one count each of criminal conspiracy. Thompson was also charged with criminal use of a communication facility.
Police seized 167 packets of heroin with a street value of $7,000 at the Altoona location. Nine packets of heroin with a street value of $5,500 and a half an ounce of crack cocaine was seized at the Tyrone residence.
Police also seized more $2,000 in money as part of the operation.
Beachem said all the suspects were arraigned before District Justice Joseph Moran in Altoona and were in the Blair County Jail in lieu of bail. A preliminary hearing before Moran is scheduled for Dec. 27.
A press release on the arrests said the investigation was continuing and additional arrests were expected.
