Jan 19, 2017 2 min read

A North Franklin Township man facing charges for allegedly traveling to Philadelphia and bringing back heroin that he then sold in Washington County had drug and other charges filed against him Tuesday in connection with an incident in West Finley Township in June.

Joseph W. Rasel, 55, of Sugar Maple Circle, was charged with possession of heroin and paraphernalia, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, careless driving and unlawful activities.

State police were called to a June 20 one-vehicle crash at the Columbia Gas site on Majorsville Road. Rasel, who police said appeared to be under the influence, told police he was unsure of where he was and believed he hit something that damaged his tire.

Police said they found a loaded syringe containing a brown liquid in his pocket, and Rasel reportedly told the trooper it was heroin. Chemical tests showed he had several drugs in his system, including Clonazepam, Alprazolam and morphine, police said.

Two days later, he was arrested by Washington police on drug charges after he reportedly was found passed out in his vehicle parked in the lot of a Jefferson Avenue business. Police said they found multiple stamp bags of heroin and more than $8,400.

Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone announced Wednesday that two Philadelphia men, Talbert Eugene Hill-El and Jose N. Alicea, were charged with delivery and possession of heroin for allegedly supplying Rasel with 30,000 to 36,000 stamp bags of heroin between April and November of last year.

State police and Washington County Drug Task Force searched Rasel’s home in November, reportedly recovering heroin and other items indicative of distribution. Rasel, Hill-El and Alicea were taken into custody in Philadelphia in December during a buy-bust after Rasel reportedly agreed to set up the purchase of about 1,400 stamp bags from Hill-El and Alicea.

Rasel faces a Feb. 17 hearing before District Judge Ethan Ward on the charges from the West Finley incident.