A tip last week resulted in the arrest of convicted felon Dante Caiden Kolasa, who city police allege was “manufacturing and distributing multiple controlled substances” in his apartment at 826 Poplar St.

Two county probation officers responded to Kolasa’s apartment about 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 12 to check on the validity of a report that he and a second man were running a drug operation. “The apartment smelled strongly of marijuana and the officers saw suspected marijuana on a tray in plain view,” it was stated in an affidavit. Kolasa and the second man, who is not being named here because he has not been charged, were in the apartment.

City police were dispatched to the scene to assist the probation officers as they struggled to search Kolasa and determine what he had in his waistband. The officers saw him grab something near a bed and “shove it towards his waistband” before he attempted to flee the apartment, police said. Kolasa claimed nothing was in the waistband, police said.

However, when a city police officer patted him down, a loaded handgun was found in Kolasa’s pants pocket, the court document stated. It turned out the handgun was stolen. Police obtained three search warrants that allowed them to seize any and all drugs and firearms in the apartment as well as any other items that may be related to the selling of narcotics.

Among the items taken from the apartment was a backpack “that contained 96 grams of cocaine, all separated in clear plastic bags” marked in various weight amounts, the affidavit stated. Police also discovered and seized in excess of 100 grams of marijuana, 79 oxycodone pills and 30 pills of promethazine. Police also seized close to $3,000 of suspected drug money and multiple cellphones, it was stated in the affidavit.

Kolasa, 22, has been charged with receiving stolen property, convicted felon not to possess a firearm and possession with intent to deliver — all felonies, plus several misdemeanors, including tampering with evidence, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Following a preliminary hearing Tuesday before District Judge Christian Frey, Kolasa was held for court on all charges. He remains jailed at the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $95,000 bail.

Kolasa was arrested two years ago on charges stemming from a police pursuit in Sunbury in which he slammed into an officer’s cruiser in late September 2022.