Six arrests in months-long drug investigation

LUCERNE CO. (WOLF) — After a months-long investigation into drug offenses in Luzerne County, six people have been arrested, authorities said.

According to the Luzerne County District Attorney's Office, authorities raided the Eagle Ridge Apartments in Edwardsville early Thursday morning as the result of a months-long drug trafficking investigation.

The investigation resulted in several drug-related search warrants to search and seize controlled substances at five different residences in the Eagle Ridge complex.

Officials said they seized crack cocaine, powder cocaine, ecstasy, prescription drugs and U.S. cash.

Six people were arrested and charged with drug-related offenses. They are:

• Theodis Brown52: Delivery of crack cocaine, criminal use of a communication facility, possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine, tampering with evidence. Remanded to Luzerne County Correctional Facility (LCCF) for failure to post $1 million bail.
• Raceedie Griffiths30: Delivery of fentanyl, criminal use of a communication facility, possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine, tampering with evidence. Held without bail.
• Christopher Belcher22: Delivery of crack cocaine, criminal use of a communications facility. In custody for failure to post $1 million bail.
• Najm Copper34: Delivery of Fentanyl, Criminal Use of a Communication Facility, Possession with Intent to Deliver Suboxone, Possession with Intent to Deliver Fentanyl. In custody for failure to post $1 million bail.
• Omar Kelly25: Delivery of fentanyl, criminal use of a communication facility, possession with intent to deliver cocaine. Held without bail.
• Shakeal Robinson Evans35: Delivery of crack cocaine, criminal use of a communication facility, possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine. Remanded to LCCF for failure to remit $1 million.

District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce praised the cooperation between federal, state, county and local authorities in the investigation in a statement.

“This investigation would not have been possible without the assistance of Attorney General Michelle Henry. Her experience as a District Attorney and her understanding of the needs of local law enforcement allowed us to open this case as an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCEDEF) case. This designation resulted in the departments involved coming together in a known problem area in Edwardsville and disrupting and dismantling this organization.”

– Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce

The cases are being prosecuted by the Luzerne County District Attorney's Office.