TAMAQUA - Arrest papers and pictures of suspects in hand, officers knocked on doors in the Tamaqua area Monday morning, taking more than a dozen people into custody on drug charges.
At least one defendant was arrested for drug possession, while most of the defendants are accused of actually selling drugs, according to Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine Holman, who along with Tamaqua police Chief Rick Weaver and members of the county drug task force orchestrated the effort.
In total, 17 warrants were served, though 20 are facing charges. The arrests came after months of police investigations involving undercover and controlled drug purchases of narcotics, some of which involved video-recorded purchases for the sale of methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana.
Holman, who sat through all of Monday's arraignments, personally asked that each person be held on high bail, stating over and over again that her office and law enforcement are taking a tough stance on drugs in the county and considers those dealing to be a danger to the community.
At minimum, Holman was asking for $25,000 bail in each case.
"We can't tolerate drug sales," she said while asking for high bail during one arraignment. Later in the day, Holman said her office would oppose any bail reductions sought by the defendants.
The reason bail is set is to prevent the defendant from fleeing and remove the person from endangering themselves and others, Holman said.
Those dealing drugs in any town pose a risk to the community, she said, and to have law-abiding citizens living around drug activity is "a travesty."
Holman said personnel from her office began working on the drug sweep about 5 a.m. Officers mobilized to serve the arrest warrants about 6:30 and by about 11:30, they had 14 of the 17 suspects in custody, she said.
"And if I know Chief Weaver and the group that gathered here today, they're not going to stop until they get the others," she said.
About 20 to 25 law enforcement officers from throughout Schuylkill County worked together to make the arrests, Holman said.
On Spruce Street in Tamaqua, she said, an officer was pounding on a door looking for a suspect "and it was alarming. You don't know what is going to happen when that door opens. But these guys and girls are well-versed and trained and well-prepared."
No officers were reported injured.
Also participating in the raids, in addition to Tamaqua police, the district attorney's office and county drug task force, were officers from Rush Township, Pottsville, Port Carbon, Schuylkill Township, Hegins Township, Minersville, Coaldale and Butler Township.
Arrests were made in various locations in and around Tamaqua.
Some of those brought before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer had been in his Tamaqua courtroom before, while some faces were unfamiliar to him.
Noelle H. Parisi, 18, of Tamaqua, sobbed while sitting before the judge as he decided her bail.
Parisi, who had not been arrested previously, said she would never run from police as she continued to cry, but Bayer said her offenses were serious enough to warrant $25,000 bail.
She was escorted out of the courtroom, like many of others Monday, in handcuffs. While being walked out of the courtroom, Parisi remarked that someone would have to wipe down the table she was sitting at because there were tears on it.
She and others were eventually loaded into a 17-passenger van for a trip to the county prison in Pottsville.
Michael J. Kabana, 24, of Coaldale, said during his arraignment that someone asked him if he wanted to make money. In addition to drug charges, he faces one count of corruption of minors; arrest papers state he sold drugs while in the presence of a minor.
"You don't sell drugs to make a living," Holman said.
Next was Peggy S. Hill, 48, Coaldale, wanted for selling heroin May 15 in Coaldale, followed by Patricia A. Derau, 41, Lansford, accused of selling methamphetamine during a controlled purchase in September.
As Bayer asked Derau questions that would help him determine proper bail, Derau said she had two children, 10 and 16, at home alone.
Her comment left Holman another task for the day, - contacting Schuylkill County Children and Youth.
Holman said it would be determined later if those arrested during the sweep were working together and if more arrests will occur. Each of those arrested Monday will likely face preliminary hearings in August, Holman said.
Maria Casey, first assistant district attorney, credited Weaver and members of the task force for taking on drug investigations, noting each arrest involved long, odd hours of work and "meticulous paperwork" for police.
Officers were still knocking on doors looking for suspects while defendants were being arraigned Monday morning.
Simultaneously, police were still answering emergency calls, including one around noon for a woman being assaulted by a male on a street in the borough.
While Holman spoke to the media outside the Tamaqua police station, officers ran to patrol vehicles and, with lights and sirens activated, responded to the 911 call.
As it turned out the victim, Allison J. Sanders, was wanted by police, Weaver said. The 34-year-old with no known address was wanted for an April 23 fire at 14 W. Broad St., Weaver said. According to court papers, the fire began when someone inside an apartment unit tried making meth.
Sanders was charged with operating a meth lab, possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, arson, reckless endangerment and other offenses.
Arrest papers state police found a smoldering pile of clothing in a bathroom of apartment 5 and elsewhere found items that are used to make meth, including a partially melted plastic bottle with some liquid and white powder in it.
Her bail was set at $50,000.
The following were charged with drug delivery and/or related drug charges and arraigned Monday before Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer in Tamaqua. Bail for the suspects is listed where available.
Sally J. Hartung, 45, of Tamaqua, $25,000.
Latia T. Matrician, 21, of Tamaqua.
Jason J. Hill, 24, of New Ringgold, $75,000.
Michael J. Kabana, 24, of Coaldale, $25,000.
Noelle H. Parisi, 18, of Tamaqua, $25,000.
Kristina M. Martin, 19, of Tamaqua, $25,000.
Thomas L. Bilsak, 25, of Coaldale, $50,000.
James R. Troy, 37, of Lansford.
Adam Cruz, 29, of Tamaqua, $50,000.
Patrica A. Derau, 41, of Lansford, 10 percent of $50,000.
Peggy S. Hill, 48, of Coaldale, $50,000.
Terri L. Kates-Fairchild, 35, of Tamaqua.
Percy Brown (no information available).
Ashley Weirich (no information available).
Kelly DeLessio (no information available).
A juvenile male from Coaldale, now 18, is charged with committing a drug offense while 17 years old.
Some of the defendants could face drug-related charges in other criminal cases, according to authorities. Also, some of those who were not arraigned Monday already were in jail, Tamaqua police Chief Rick Weaver said.
Stephanie M. Forrester, 22, of Coaldale, also was arrested during the sweep on charges of possession of a controlled substance and use or possession of drug paraphernalia related to a Jan. 16 offense in Tamaqua. Her bail was set at $25,000.
Police are still looking for Justin S. Nahf, 25, of Telford, and Maria Motroni, 26, of Allentown, who are both wanted on drug charges. Anyone with knowledge of their whereabouts is asked to contact police.