WOODLAND – Clearfield County District Attorney, William A. Shaw, Jr., announced that a drug operation conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police has resulted in the arrest of a Woodland man. Shaw identified the suspect as Joshua D. McLaughlin, age 19, of Woodland Village, Bradford Township.
The criminal complaints allege that on Oct. 26, a police informant purchased $320.00 worth of heroin and crack cocaine from McLaughlin at Mutton Hollow Road, Woodland. The criminal complaints also allege that on Nov. 18 and Dec. 15, an undercover state trooper purchased $350.00 worth of crack cocaine from McLaughlin on each occasion in the parking lot of a convenience store in Woodland.
The state police then obtained a search warrant for a residence at Pine Top Road, Bradford Township, where McLaughlin was known to be staying. On Dec. 16, state troopers executed the search warrant and seized crack cocaine, heroin, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, approximately $4,000.00 in U.S. currency, and a sawed off shotgun.
On Dec. 22, McLaughlin appeared for a preliminary hearing on the first criminal complaint filed and waived the charges to court. McLaughlin is scheduled to be arraigned on the second criminal complaint on Dec. 29. McLaughlin remains incarcerated in the Clearfield County Jail with bail set at $50,000.00 by Magisterial District Judge Michael Rudella.
Shaw stated that the charges reflect the ongoing nature of drug investigation in Clearfield County. Shaw said that, “We have multiple drug investigations ongoing throughout Clearfield County and I want to emphasize that every effort is being made to identify and prosecute drug dealers in our community”. Shaw said that the operation in Woodland was the result of anonymous tips from citizens and noted that law enforcement relies on this type of information to identify and investigate drug dealers.
Anyone with knowledge of a crime is asked to call Clearfield County Crimestoppers toll free at 800-376-4700. All calls to Crimestoppers are confidential. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by visiting the Clearfield County District Attorney Web site and selecting “Report A Crime”.