Log In


Reset Password

Seven charged with Monroe drug bust

A large quantity of drugs, guns and money was found during a search of a Monroe County home this week, resulting in the arrest of seven people on drug and related counts.

Pocono Mountain Regional police said a search warrant was executed at 159 Echo Lake Road in Coolbaugh Township. The warrant was the result of a several-month investigation conducted by police.As a result of the search and investigation the following people have been arrested. Patricia Thomas, 48; Albert Allen, 54; Michael Turner, 22; Dowayne Sanderson, 32; Silvia Austin, 44; and a 16-year-old male juvenile, all from Tobyhanna. Another suspect, Andrew Turner, 28, also of Tobyhanna, is being sought.According to police, all the suspects but Andrew Turner, were in the home when the warrant was executed.Officers sized bulk quantities of heroin, cocaine, marijuana and additional quantities of the drugs packaged for sale in many varieties of sizes consistent with street-level drug trafficking. The drugs were found throughout the home in various locations and within reach of the suspects, and a 4-year-old child also found in the home at the time.A larger amount of marijuana was also located with 61 knotted baggies, a scale and additional packaging materials were found in the dining room. Significant amounts of heroin, cocaine and marijuana were also found in bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, family room and the garage.Loaded firearms were located all over the home hidden in chairs, lawn mowers in the garage and under a sink in a bedroom.Evidence of trafficking on the drugs was also located throughout the home, including vacuum sealers, boxes of sandwich baggies, rice and brick wrappers for heroin baggies of suspected cutting agent, dime-size and cocaine-size baggies for street-level sales.Also found were ammunition, a stun gun, holsters and magazines for numerous calibers of firearms located throughout the home - many in the bedrooms. A total of seven handguns were seized.Found was $1,760 in counterfeit U.S. currency, $14,500 in U.S. currency, and $5,100 in Jamaican currency, all of which were in denominations consistent with street-level dealing in narcotics.Quantities of controlled substances seized netted about 250 grams of crack and powder cocaine, 150 bags of heroin, and multiple pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $64,000. The investigation also revealed that at least three of the occupants in the home are prohibited from possessing firearms.All of the suspects were taken to the Monroe County prison in Snydersville. The 16-year-old was taken to a juvenile detention center, pending a hearing in the county juvenile court.Andrew Turner, Michael Turner and their mother, Patricia Thomas, are charged with possession with intent to deliver and delivery of heroin, cocaine and marijuana, criminal conspiracy, persons not to possess firearms, forgery, endangering the welfare of children, criminal use of a communication facility, receiving stolen property-firearms, possessing instruments of crime, possession of prohibited incapacitation devices, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.Sanderson, Allen and Austin were all charged with possession with intent to deliver and delivery, criminal conspiracy, endangering the welfare of children, possessing instruments of crime, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.