ALTOONA – State Attorney General Tom Corbett and Blair County District Attorney Richard Consiglio Monday announced that agents from the attorney general’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, along with 100 local police officers, are in the process of capturing as many as 51 heroin, crack cocaine and marijuana dealers operating in Blair County.
Corbett said the arrests are the result of a six-month long investigation which focused on street-level and mid-level drug dealers.
“We’re here today to continue to make it very clear that drug sales will not be tolerated on the streets of Altoona and other Blair County communities,” Corbett said. “Working side-by-side with local police, we will continue these drug arrests until local drug dealers and drug users understand that their criminal activity is not welcome here.”
Corbett said 33 of the suspected drug dealers are from Altoona. Other local suspects are from Duncansville, Hollidaysburg, Tyrone and Martinsburg. Additionally, Corbett said the investigation resulted in criminal charges against two suspected mid-level drug dealers allegedly linked to drug trafficking from New York City into Blair County.
Terrell Kashawn Daniels and Tashawn Allen Davis, both from Brooklyn, N.Y., were already being held in the Blair County Prison following drug-related arrests by the Blair County Drug Task Force earlier this summer.
Daniels was charged today with possession, delivery and conspiracy to deliver crack cocaine. Davis was charged today with possession, delivery and conspiracy to deliver heroin.
Corbett said Altoona remains a focus of attention for drug suppliers from outside Central Pennsylvania, especially New York City. He noted that several of the Altoona area residents charged today allegedly served as “runners” for New York based drug dealers, delivering drugs to local street-level dealers or buyers.
“The New York City connection remains very strong, serving as a pipeline for drugs, drug-related violence and gang activity,” Corbett said. “Identifying and capturing the drug traffickers responsible for bringing large quantities of heroin and cocaine into Blair County is a top priority for BNI investigators and local police.”
Corbett said Altoona and other Pennsylvania communities are also faced with a rising tide of drug-related violence.
Information provided to the Blair County “Push Out the Pushers Hotline” (693-3020) was also used to help identify suspected drug dealers during this investigation.