CLEARFIELD – A woman accused of selling heroin to a drug task force officer had all seven of her preliminary hearings continued until Feb. 26 during Centralized Court on Wednesday at the Clearfield County Jail.
Melissa D. Padgett, 28, of Philipsburg has been charged with manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; intentional possession of a controlled substance; use/possession of drug paraphernalia; and criminal use of a communications facility.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on May 2, a Clearfield County Drug Task Force officer and a confidential informant arranged the purchase of three stamp bags of heroin and three capsule pills for $110 from Padgett. Upon arrival in the Philipsburg area, the CI got an incoming call from Padgett, who told them to meet her near the Hillcrest Commons.
Upon arrival the officer pulled into the playground area where there were several children. Padgett proceeded to walk from the playground and approached the passenger’s side. She opened the door and told the CI to move over and then retrieved a multi-colored tin from her handbag.
Because people were around the parking lot, the officer suggested they roll up the windows, which were tinted. Padgett told him, “It’s OK. Everyone here knows I am a drug dealer.” Padgett proceeded to open the tin and counted out three stamp bags of heroin and three Adderall capsules. The officer and Padgett exchanged the money and drugs after which she exited the vehicle.
On May 7, the CI sent a text message to Padgett asking to give her cell phone number to the officer. Padgett told the CI to give the officer her number and to have them text message her as soon as possible. Padgett also told the CI that she had Xanax pills for sale.
The next day, the officer sent a text message to Padgett asking when she would have some heroin. When she asked how much, the officer wanted a bundle of heroin; Padgett said she could most likely get it. When the officer asked about a price, she said it depended upon who she got it from but probably around $230-$250.
On May 13, the officer sent a text message to Padgett about buying a bundle of heroin. Padgett said she had five stamp bags on her but needed to come up with money for more, as she owed her “dude” a lot. Padgett said her “dude” wanted to sell the stamp bags at $30 each, and she wasn’t sure if he’d make a deal on a “bun.”
After several text messages, the officer agreed to buy five stamp bags of heroin for $120. They would make the deal in the parking lot of the Hillcrest Commons. A short while later, Padgett exited an apartment and entered the passenger’s side of the officer’s vehicle. Padgett then retrieved five stamp bags of heroin and handed them to the officer.
The officer asked Padgett when she would have more drugs. She told the officer to text message her and she would get it. Padgett also asked the officer if they knew anyone who wanted to buy “Perks,” or Percocet. The officer told her they would check around.
On July 9, the officer sent a text message to Padgett about buying a “bun” of heroin either the next day or the day after. She replied, telling the officer to let her know when exactly and also asking, “Ur not a cop, are you[?] Sorry but sketched out sometimes esp. when people come and go away for a while.”
After several text messages, the officer agreed to buy a bundle of heroin for $260 from Padgett. The next day, the officer sent a text message to Padgett asking where he should head to. Padgett replied that she was at “drug and alcohol” but would be back by 10:45 a.m. The officer said they would arrive at about that time and asked about meeting in the plaza by McDonald’s.
After several text messages, the officer and Padgett agreed to meet in the Peebles Plaza. When the officer pulled in, he observed Padgett in a vehicle with a male. She got out and entered the officer’s vehicle who asked about the male with her. She told the officer it was her supplier.
Padgett retrieved the bundle of heroin while the officer counted out $260. At that point, the officer looked at Padgett’s supplier who was trying to get her attention and saying a cop had driven by. He wanted Padgett to get back in the vehicle with him. The officer and Padgett then exchanged the heroin and money.
After the buy, the officer sent a text message to Padgett, who replied that police watch the plaza “tough,” which is why she didn’t want to meet there. The officer replied, saying he wasn’t aware of that and didn’t really see a cop come through until after they pulled out.
On Aug. 7, the officer sent a text message to Padgett about buying a “bun” of heroin. Padgett replied, saying she could get it even though her “dude” went to jail; however, she had to be “super careful” about it. She also said that the “other dude” she got it from had upped his prices.
After that Padgett called the officer and they arranged to meet at the Sheetz store in Philipsburg. The officer wanted to purchase a bundle of heroin for $265. At Sheetz the officer approached a vehicle that Padgett was a back seat passenger in.
The officer started counting out money for Padgett. She then reached out the vehicle’s window with what appeared to be a bundle of heroin, and they exchanged the money and heroin. The officer later counted out nine stamp bags of heroin instead of the 10, which was originally ordered from Padgett. Each stamp bag was stamped in red ink “serial killer” with a knife.
On Aug. 12, the officer sent a text message to Padgett about buying a couple stamp bags of heroin the next day. The officer then specifically asked for four stamp bags of heroin, which Padgett said would cost $120. The next day after several text messages, the officer and Padgett agreed to meet at Sheetz in Philipsburg.
Padgett approached the driver’s side window of the officer’s vehicle and handed in four stamp bags of heroin. Each bag was stamped in red ink with “overdose” and a picture of a syringe. The officer handed $120 to Padgett.
From Oct. 2-Oct. 16, the officer exchanged several text messages with Padgett about buying heroin. The officer wanted to purchase five bags of heroin for $150 on Oct. 17 in Philipsburg. Later on, the officer and Padgett agreed to meet at a Laundromat in the Chester Hill area.
Upon the officer’s arrival to the Laundromat, an agent conducted surveillance and observed the residence of a male who distributed heroin to Padgett. On one occasion, the agent had observed Padgett go to the residence to obtain heroin to sell to the officer.
When Padgett arrived, she got into the officer’s vehicle. She told the officer she had to wait a minute for her “dude.” When he was ready for her, she got her purse and handed it to the officer. The officer told Padgett she wasn’t getting any money until she got the heroin.
Padgett told the officer she couldn’t get the heroin without money. The officer told her to “sweet talk” her dude and she walked away toward his residence. When she returned, Padgett handed the officer five stamp bags of heroin; she was handed $150 and exited with the buy money.
On Nov. 6, the officer sent a text message to Padgett about getting some “goods.” She replied, saying she’d gotten a new job and would be at work. After exchanging several text messages, the officer agreed to pick her up from work the next day. The officer would take her to Philipsburg to pick up a bundle of heroin for $250-$265.
The next day, the officer met with agents and other drug task force officers. During a briefing, they decided that this operation would be a “buy/bust,” and the officer was given $275 for a bundle of heroin from Padgett.
The officer went to pick up Padgett when she got off work. While en route to Philipsburg, she asked the officer to stop for her to pick up a check from a male in West Decatur. After that she asked the officer to take her to the bank to cash it.
Padgett told the officer they weren’t going to Chester Hill for the heroin. Instead, she directed him to park at Sheetz, and she’d cross the bridge and come back. At the same time, an agent who was in the vehicle with the officer was notified there would be a “buy/bust” traffic stop on their vehicle en route back to Clearfield.
Upon arrival to Sheetz, Padgett told the officer to park behind the store. The officer then handed Padgett $250 to purchase a bundle of heroin. She exited the vehicle and walked away from the parking area. A short time later, she returned and immediately handed the officer the heroin.
Inside the vehicle, Padgett reached into her purse and pulled out a small, pink bag. When asked what she was doing, she said “shooting up;” however, she decided not to. Padgett told the officer she had gotten some heroin for herself.
While traveling on U.S. Route 322, the officer observed a marked state police vehicle behind them. Its driver had activated the emergency lights; state police and a drug task force officer performed a traffic stop. At this point, the officer and agent in the vehicle identified themselves to Padgett.
Padgett removed eight stamp bags of heroin from her pants and turned it over to state police. Padgett was searched and transported to the state police at Clearfield. At the barracks, Padgett consented to a search of her purse, which turned up a tourniquet, several Q-tips, spoons with burnt residue, syringes, empty waxed bags, a plastic pill crusher and items with her name on them.