PPD Press Release (07-15-2005)

On Thursday evening (07/14/2005), between 6 PM and Midnight, officers from the Pottstown Police Department, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Drug Task Force, and the District Attorney's Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) "hit" the streets of Pottstown with arrest warrants for numerous individuals who had been targeted in an ongoing drug trafficking investigation. In the end, Seven (7) adults and six (6) juveniles (five from Pottstown, one from Norristown) were in custody (See Below) and a search warrant had been served at 550 Chestnut St.

In addition to the arrests, police recovered a handgun, seized an undetermined amount US currency (proceeds of criminal activities), numerous bags of cocaine and marijuana (packaged for street sales).

Pottstown Police Chief Mark Flanders commended all of the officers "who participated in the undercover operations and in the sweep." Chief Flanders indicates that "there a numerous warrants still outstanding for other subjects" and that "there are other active ongoing investigations that will result in more arrests."

Thursday's arrests were the result of several months worth of undercover operations by Pottstown officers, Task Force members, and NET detectives, in and around the areas of Franklin St. at Union Alley and York St. at Second St. Chief Flanders thanked Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor for his continued support and assistance with Pottstown's fight against drugs. He pointed out that "without the resources provided by Mr. Castor, we would not be able to effectively conduct undercover drug investigations with this kind of results."

	Hiram Brown, III (Age 22) 133 Beech St. Pottstown, PA Act 64 Violations: Possession and Delivery of Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Remanded to MCCF
	Tina Buckner (Age 20) 976 Spruce St. Pottstown, PA Act 64 Violations: Possession and Delivery of Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia & Criminal Conspiracy Released on $20,000 (10%) Bail
	Kiegel Jacob (Age 19) 563 King St. (1st Flr.) Pottstown, PA Act 64 Violations: Possession and Delivery of Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Remanded to MCCF
	Linda Steininger (Age 48) 550 Chestnut St. Pottstown, PA Act 64 Violations: Possession and Delivery of Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia & Criminal Conspiracy, Possession of a Firearm with Altered Serial Number Remanded to MCCF
	Parish Tanner (Age 20) 269 N. Hanover St. Pottstown Act 64 Violations: Possession and Delivery of Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Remanded to MCCF
	Andre Ziegler (Age 23) 616 Beech St. Pottstown, PA Act 64 Violations: Possession and Delivery of Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Previously listed as one of Pottstown's Most Wanted) Remanded to MCCF
NO PHOTO	Unidentified Subject Act 64 Violations: Possession and Delivery of Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Resisting Arrest Currently in treatment at PMMC after swallowing a large quantity of drugs during arrest.
SIX JUVENILES NO PHOTOS	Six Un-Named Juveniles (Ages ranging from 15 to 17) CHARGES INCLUDING - Act 64 Violations: Possession and Delivery of Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia & Criminal Conspiracy, False ID to Law Enforcement, and Resisting Arrest Five remanded to MCJDC