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An early-evening raid by the city's Special Response Team at a home in the 2300 block of West Fourth Street on Tuesday night resulted in two men being locked up on felony drug and firearm charges after a large amount of cocaine and drug packaging material were located in their house, according to city police and the county's Narcotics Enforcement Unit (NEU).
Taken into custody were William E. Thomas, 37, and Ocufi Lawrence, 42, both of whom live in the home at 2324 W. Fourth St. that officers raided about 6:30 p.m. with a search warrant that was obtained based on information "involving several narcotics and firearm violations," police said in a news release. Thomas bolted out a door but was quickly nabbed, police said.
Investigators said they seized an estimated one kilogram -- equal to 1,000 grams -- of cocaine that was found in a safe along with an illegally possessed handgun and three loaded magazines.
In a news release, Lycoming County District Attorney Ryan Gardner said the investigation revealed that Thomas and Lawrence were storing and distributing cocaine in their home and "storing the proceeds from the illegal drug transactions (next door) at 2326 W. Fourth St." Gardner said search warrants were obtained for both properties. A city police K-9 also took part in the raid.
At the 2326 home, police seized 10 grams of Ecstasy and an estimated $6,500 of suspected drug money, Gardner said.
Thomas and Lawrence were both arraigned about 2 a.m. Wednesday before District Judge William Solomon on charges of possession with intent to deliver cocaine and illegal possession of a firearm. The two were committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $250,000 bail each.
In another NEU case, Solomon arraigned hours earlier Quante Hanes, 29, of 220 Jerome Ave., on two counts each of delivery of a controlled substance and illegal use of a cellphone stemming from his alleged involvement in two sales of suspected cocaine to informants; one on Aug. 16 and another on Tuesday, according to court papers. The alleged sales occurred in the city. Hanes was released on $99,000 bail.
In another case, Dustin Waugh, 49, of 728 Butternut Grove Road, apartment 1, Montoursville, was arraigned early Wednesday morning before Solomon on two felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance that stems from an incident on Route 87 in Fairfield Township on Aug. 18.
On that day, Waugh's truck was stopped by NEU for a vehicle code violation, and three bags of methamphetamines, containing an estimated 57 grams of the drug, were seized from the vehicle, according to court records. Waugh was jailed in lieu of $99,000 bail.
A passenger in the truck, David W. Templeton, 45, of 451 George St., South Williamsport, was arraigned last week on the same charges before District Judge Gary Whiteman stemming from the same incident. He was initially jailed, but has since been released on $250,000 bail.
In another case, drug charges have been lodged against Sean David Beam, 39, of 117 W. Sixth Ave., South Williamsport, after methamphetamines and crack cocaine were found in his home on April 13, according to court records filed at Whiteman's office.
At least seven grams of cocaine were found in a bedroom he shares with Meghan Good, 36, who was who was already arrested for this incident, investigators with the county's Narcotics Enforcement Unit (NEU) said in an affidavit.
The discovery was made shortly after county probation officers arrived at the home to take Beam into custody on a probation violation, according to court records. Cocaine and paraphernalia were in plain view, investigators said. The probation officers notified NEU, which in turn obtained a search warrant that allowed them to go through the entire home.
At least three grams of methamphetamines were seized, investigators said. Like Good, Beam was charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession with intent to deliver methamphetamines. Good and Beam remain in the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail each.
Good told investigators that "she and Beam have a circle of 10 friends who they sell drugs to in order to maintain their drug habit. She said she sells to some (friends) and Beam sells to some," according to the affidavit.
Concerning another drug case, Ashley M. Calhoun, 34, of Lock Haven, remains behind bars on charges of possession with intent to deliver 251 bags of fentanyl and 17 grams of cocaine that stem from an incident near Seventh Avenue and High Street on April 19, according to court records filed by city police. Following her recent arraignment before District Judge Christian Frey, she was jailed in lieu of $50,000 bail.