29 Busted in Second Drug Sweep in Two Days

CLARION, Pa. – According to a press release issued Friday by the Clarion County District Attorney’s Office,  twenty-nine individuals  have been charged today with narcotics trafficking in southern Clarion County and northern Armstrong County.

Early this morning members of the Clarion Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Southern Clarion County Regional Police Department, assisted by other law enforcement agencies, began serving arrest warrants for twenty-nine individuals who have been charged with narcotics trafficking in southern Clarion County and northern Armstrong County.

The issuance of these arrest warrants is the result of a yearlong investigation conducted in cooperation with ARM-NET (Armstrong County Drug Task Force) and the drug interdiction unit of Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane.

Today’s activities are a continuation of yesterday’s operation in Armstrong County.  Due to the large number of warrants issued (53) the operation was conducted over two days.

All charges for warrants issued today in Clarion County were filed in Magisterial District 18-3-04, and will be arraigned in front of Hon. Jeffrey Miller Magisterial District Judge.  Armstrong County cases were filed in Magisterial District 33-3-04, Hon. Samuel R. Goldstrohm, and Magisterial District 33-3-02, Hon. James H. Owen.

Statement from Clarion County District Attorney Mark Aaron:

“Activities of the last two days are an example of what can be done when law enforcement agencies cooperate regardless of county or municipal borders”

“All heroin present in Clarion County has been “imported” from other areas.   Over the past two days, we have addressed the heroin travelling up the Route 28 corridor into Clarion County, as well as heroin coming from Pittsburgh, Detroit and Cleveland.   The Assistance of Attorney General Kane, and Armstrong County District Attorney Scott Andreassi were instrumental in making this operation a success.”

“Several of today’s warrants relate to individuals selling suboxone. The intended purpose of suboxone is to treat heroin addiction.  But, suboxone is an opiate, the same as heroin is an opiate. Suboxone is routinely diverted from treatment into the illegal drug trade where the addictions and lives destroyed are exactly the same as heroin.”

“The work of the under-cover law enforcement officers involved in drug interdiction is extremely dangerous and of necessity unacknowledged.  These officers put their lives on the line every single day to make our communities a better place to live, and safer for our children.  While their work must be in the shadows, our communities appreciate their work in apprehending the drug dealers who prey upon our children.” 

“I would also like to thank the uniformed law enforcement officers who participated in today’s activities.  The work of Clarion County CNET Coordinator William Peck was instrumental in bringing about these arrests.”

Participating in today’s operation were:

– Agents of Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane
– Clarion Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET)
– Southern Clarion Regional Police Department
– Armstrong County Narcotics Enforcement Team (ARM-NET)
– Pennsylvania State Police – Clarion Barracks
– Pennsylvania State Police – Punxsutawney Barracks
– Clarion County Sheriff’s Office
– Armstrong County Sheriff’s Office
– Ford City Police Department
– Clarion Borough Police
– Knox Borough Police
– Emlenton Borough Police
– Clarion County Adult Probation

List of individuals arrested in today’s operation:

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