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1/19/2009 3:31 AM

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By Kathie O. Warco, Staff writer

kwarco@observer-reporter.com

Three people will be charged after members of the Washington County District Attorney's Drug Task Force served a search warrant Friday night at a home on East Walnut Street in Washington.

Investigators also are considering charges against a fourth person after they found him with $1,800.

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Facing charges of possession of crack and possession of drug paraphernalia are Robert Dates, 62, of 75 E. Walnut St., Washington, and Jay Marte, 46, of 137 Scott Ave., Canton Township. Paula Wise, 40, of 123 North Ave., East Washington, will be charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Investigators will be looking into the role of Sean Wilkerson of Pittsburgh, who was found in the home with the cash.

District Attorney Steven Toprani said Sunday that Dates' home has been the source of complaints from neighbors to both the task force and city police.

"The best way to describe this residence is a crack house," Toprani said. "It has been the scene of substantial activity both day and night."

Toprani and investigators believe that Wilkerson was going back and forth to the Homewood area to bring crack back to Washington. Some of the cash had been used by the task force to make controlled buys at the residence.

"We believe the money he had was going to be used to re-up his supply," Toprani said.

The district attorney said that Wilkerson likely was given free rein to operate from Dates' home.

"We've seen this before where people allow the dealers to move into their home so they can deal without impediment," he said. "It has become a troublesome trend. But we won't tolerate these safe havens in Washington County."

This is not the first time Dates has been the target of a task force warrant. In 2006, his home in the 200 block of Locust Avenue was searched.

The three will be arraigned at a later date, receiving summons in the mail from the office of Senior District Judge Marjorie Teagarden.

Assisting the task force were Washington police, the Cecil Township K-9 unit and state police.

Anyone wanting to report on possible drug activity in their neighborhood is encouraged by Toprani to call the task force hotline at 1-800-281-0070.

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2 comments

city drug bust : 1/19/2009
Great!!! Now come clean up the west end. Hayes Ave is bad. I have called the 800 # several times but they are still dealing. Like I have said in the many vm's sit behind the old Angelo's any time of day and you can see for yourself.

sick of the dealers running the city

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MY DAD : 1/20/2009
I LOVE YOU!11

you

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