A joint effort between the Lycoming County Drug Task Force and the state police vice and interdiction units have captured a suspected drug dealer from Philadelphia, after officers discovered that the much sought-after man was camped out in a local hotel room.
Demetrious "Meech" Marcel Washington, 24, has been charged with one count of delivery of a controlled substance and two counts of possession with intent to deliver, after officers allegedly found more than $14,000 worth of heroin in his hotel room.
According to court records, on Saturday members of the task force and state police met in reference to a narcotics investigation involving Washington.
Drug task force agents discovered that Washington allegedly had spent the last five days at a room in the Econo Lodge, 2019 E. Third St. in Loyalsock Township.
At about 1:45 p.m., officers set up a surveillance unit to watch Washington's room.
At about 3:29 p.m., officers observed a vehicle containing two white females pull up.
The passenger, later identified as Karen Rice, allegedly got out of the vehicle and met with Washington in his room.
She returned about one minute later and the car drove off.
Members of the state police followed and stopped the vehicle. Rice was discovered to be in possession of four bags of heroin, according to police.
Rice admitted to purchasing the drugs from a man she knew as "Meech" at his hotel room.
At about 1:52 p.m., officers moved in.
When Washington heard them knocking, he allegedly locked the door from the inside, causing police to force entry.
According to court records, officers saw Washington run to the bathroom, slam the door, and heard the sound of the toilet flushing. This led police "to believe he was getting rid of evidence," according to the affidavit.
Washington was arrested without further incident and taken to police headquarters.
A search of the room revealed a clear, plastic bag with about 17 grams of heroin, a digital scale, two small bags containing a small amount of marijuana, about $3,000, and razors and baggies "commonly used to package narcotics," according to court records.A drug wipe test, run on Washington's hands, revealed the presence of both marijuana and heroin.
Washington was arraigned before Lepley at about 11:30 p.m. that night. He remains incarcerated at the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Washington will face a preliminary trial before District Judge Gary A. Whiteman at 9 a.m. on next Monday.
