‘Buy and bust’ nets one arrest


By Robert Guttersohn

rguttersohn@vindy.com

Hubbard

Township police charged a 36-year-old resident with two felony counts of drug trafficking Thursday, after an undercover narcotic agent was twice sold a total of 3.7 grams of heroin.

Donald Lewis, 509 Caroline Ave., was arrested in the 2200 block of North Main Street during a “buy and bust” operation, police said.

Police Chief Todd Coonce said normally, narcotic agents will buy from a suspect two or three times before making the arrest because when charging someone with drug trafficking, it is important to show a pattern.

He said it was better to arrest Lewis while dealing on the street because police would have had to obtain a search warrant if he was dealing out of his house.

Coonce said most drug deals in the township occur not in the rural areas but in populated areas.

“Parking lots are known as areas where a lot of drug deals occur with traffic flowing in and out all the time,” Coonce said.

He said he hopes this arrest sends a message “that we are watching.”

Lewis is scheduled to appear 2 p.m. Wednesday in Girard Municipal Court for his preliminary hearing.