A Lansford man has been charged after police said he tried to swallow packets of heroin last week.

Prince Shamel Vereen, 28, of West Kline Avenue, was arrested on an outstanding warrant out of Luzerne County.

Police were called to a home on West Bertsch Street for a man and a woman who were inside of a home without permission.

When they arrived the pair had fled, but a witness described the man as having a red hat, white T-shirt and red pants.

An officer saw a man matching the description walking a few blocks away on West Kline Avenue, and stopped to talk with him. The man gave his name as Sharif Johnson. He later admitted his name was Prince Vereen, but he lied because there was a warrant out for his arrest.

Police confirmed the warrant out of Luzerne County, and arrested Vereen.

He was transported back to the Lansford Police station. When police removed Vereen from the cruiser, he dropped several white packets from his hand. They then discovered 11 more packets in his mouth, and it appeared that he was trying to swallow them.

Vereen declined to answer any more questions from police. He was charged with drug possession and attempting to destroy evidence.

He was sent to Carbon County Prison in lieu of $3,000 bail. A preliminary hearing has been set for June 27 before Magisterial District Judge Casimir T. Kosciolek.