Police confiscate heroin, arrest man
An Allegheny County man was arrested Sunday afternoon on drug charges after Monongahela police said they spotted him driving with a suspended license on West Main Street.
Jeffrey J. Martinez, 43, of West Mifflin, was asked by police when he stepped out of his vehicle if he had any weapons or anything illegal.
“His response to the officer: ‘You know what I got,'” said police Chief Brian Tempest.
Inside a mint box Martinez had tucked in the waistband of his pants, an officer reported finding 37 stamp bags of suspected heroin. Martinez then admitted to having “a good bit more” behind the passenger seat, Tempest said. Police said they found another 100 stamp bags, and an officer found $332 in Martinez’ pocket.
This is the third time in just more than two weeks Monongahela police have taken heroin and other drugs off the streets.
“We’ve confiscated 13 bricks of heroin, with each brick containing 50 stamp bags, in the last two weeks,” Tempest said. “Our officers have also confiscated five grams of crack, marijuana and two loaded handguns.”
On April 26, police said they seized 100 stamp bags of heroin, additional heroin in a bag and crack from Christopher Miles, 25, of Clairton, during a traffic stop. Police are working to confiscate Miles’ pickup truck and $500 as part of forfeiture proceedings.
Two days later, police arrested Cameron Michael Grogan, 20, and Candice Marie Jackson, 24, both of Monessen, after they reportedly were found squatting in an apartment on West Main Street.
Police said the two had 29 bundles containing 288 stamp bags of suspected heroin. Police also confiscated two loaded handguns, a .22-caliber Beretta and 9 mm Kel-Tec. Grogan and Jackson also reportedly had two prescription bottles containing a variety of pills and $540.
Martinez was arraigned before District Judge Larry Hopkins on multiple charges of possession and possession with intent to deliver heroin, as well as one count each of possession of paraphernalia and driving with a suspended license.
He was placed in Washington County jail on $25,000 bond.
He is slated for a preliminary hearing May 22 before District Judge Mark Wilson.