PPD Press Release (Blank)

Pottstown Police Department Chief of Police Mark D. Flanders and Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce L. Castor, Jr. are pleased to announce the arrest of four (4) individuals (arrestee information to follow) for Drug Act violations, during a "reverse" undercover operation last Friday (02/10/2006) evening. Additionally, surveillance officers arrested a Pottstown juvenile after they observed him in possession of suspected cocaine.

Between 8:00 pm and midnight, officers from the Pottstown Police Department, members of the Montgomery County District Attorney's Drug Task Force, and the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) set up "shop" at various locations in the area bordered by Beech St., Warren St., King St. and Charlotte St. for the purpose of conducting the operation. Undercover officers and police informants, posing as drug dealers, waited for individuals to approach them and solicit drugs. Once the solicitation was made, the transaction was completed with the suspect providing the undercover officer or informant with cash in exchange for what looked like drugs - which was actually a harmless inert substance packaged to look like actual drugs.

Chief Flanders indicated that, "These arrests and seizures were made as part of an ongoing High-Visibility Joint Drug Interdiction Initiative in the Borough. Up till now, we've been targeting the suppliers. Friday night's initiative should serve as notice to perspective drug buyers that we have added another dimension to the initiative. We are now targeting the demand side of the drug trafficking problem - buyer beware."

EDITH ANN MYSLAK (Age 47) 170 N. Charlotte St. Pottstown, PA

Criminal Attempt at Drug Act Violations: Possession of Controlled Substances, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Criminal Solicitation

Released on Bail

SHON GATES (Age 35) 532 High St. Pottstown, PA

Criminal Attempt at Drug Act Violations: Possession of Controlled Substances, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Criminal Solicitation

Remanded to MCCF

TINA SIMMONS (Age 30) No Known Address

Criminal Attempt at Drug Act Violations: Possession of Controlled Substances, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Criminal Solicitation

Note: Simmons was also wanted on a County Bench Warrant out of Lancaster County, PA

Remanded to MCCF

WILLIE HENDERSON (Age 49) 673 Walnut St. Pottstown, PA

Criminal Attempt at Drug Act Violations: Possession of Controlled Substances, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Criminal Solicitation

Remanded to MCCF

17 year old male Pottstown Juvenile

Seized in the arrest were 20 bags of suspected crack cocaine and more than $350 in US currency

Drug Act Violations: Possession, and Possession With the Intent to Deliver Controlled Substances, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Released to a parent pending action by Juvenile Court