After conducting a traffic stop, both Eckert and Walter were taken into custody and interviewed. 16th Floor, Strawberry Square Today, Sept. 23, police received arrest warrants for Erica Eckert, 43, of Altoona and Jayme Walter, 42, of Roaring Spring, who both face alleged drug charges after police conducted an investigation that took three months into possible meth distribution in the Altoona/Blair County area. AG Shapiro: Statewide Meth Ring Busted, 32 Arrested In Operation Ice Breaker, Send Drug and Child Predator Anonymous Tips, Community Drug Abuse Prevention Grant Program, ACRE Agriculture, Communities and Rural Environment, Pennsylvania State Coroners Education Board, Voters Rights in Effect at the Polling Places on Election Days. Eckert was brought in next to be interviewed by officials. Mercy Hospital established a new credit union with Samuel Raneri as president and BELLWOOD Aquatic design architect Edwin Wallover has been conducting community meetings for pool projects since From Mirror staff reports A brick would represent about 1 gram, according to police. Helped lead an ongoing national investigation by 41 Attorneys General of the pharmaceutical industry for their role in fueling the opioid crisis in our country. This law enforcement action is the result of wiretaps and a year-long grand jury investigation into a drug trafficking network between Philadelphia and Blair counties which authorized the arrest of 17 individuals including the Philadelphia sources of methamphetamine and Blair Countys upper and mid-level dealers. This demonstrates the use of Suboxone to either supplement or obtain heroin. Police say 42-year-old Jayme Walter and 43-year-old Erica Eckert were arrested Thursday on charges of drug possession, manufacturing and conspiracy following a . The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. Posted by Altoona Police Department - Altoona, PA on Friday, April 23, 2021 Prunty is now facing several charges, including felony conspiracy and drug charges. Fax: Multiple cell phones, PA Office of Attorney General / Press Office Blair County and much of rural Pennsylvania is suffering under the drug crisis being fueled by organizations like those taken down today, said Attorney General Josh Shapiro. ALTOONA Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced the arrest of 32 individuals for the sale and distribution of methamphetamine in Blair County. 717-787-8242 Today's breaking news and more in your inbox. Attorney General Shapiro: I promised to remain vigilant and arrest people peddling poison in Altoona and Blair Counties and Ive kept that commitment.. Departments involved include: The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, Altoona Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, State College Police Department, Patton Township Police Department, Ferguson Township Police Department, and Logan Township Police Department. Please click here for a full list of the 72 individuals charged today. Police say the street value of the drugs seized exceeds $250,000, making this case one of the largest meth busts in Blair County history. PA Office of Attorney General / Press Office Police say 42-year-old Jayme Walter and 43-year-old Erica Eckert were arrested Thursday on charges of drug possession, manufacturing and conspiracy following a three-month investigation by Altoona police, the Blair County District Attorneys office and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. And over $1,900 in cash. NEW DETAILS: After police interviewed both Walter and Eckert, officials found that another contact named C would give the meth to them. residents outrage over water pipe issues. Community / 3 days ago. 2023 WWCP, FOX 8 - 21 grams of a white powder, suspected to be fentanyl, Authorities note that additional arrests will be announced at a later date, as a result of the investigation. My Office has been focused on keeping drug dealers out of communities in the Altoona region since I was sworn in as Attorney General, Attorney General Shapiro said. Charges are filed against 48-year-old Scott Lapean. Kenneth Miko, 32, Jacob Simmons 35, and Chris McDaniels, 37, all of Cresson, were detained Friday after a search warrant was executed on the 7900 block of Admiral Peary Highway, Cresson Township. Police then took her phone to search and told her that she would get it back after the search, according to the complaint. It is important that these individuals be targeted. 717-787-3391. She responded by saying that Walter was arrested by probation as a cover-up for the drug shipment that police intercepted. The incident, which prompted Logan Township police to file charges. 717-787-5211 Published: Sep. 1, 2021 at 2:25 PM PDT ALTOONA, Wis. (WEAU) - A large drug bust in Altoona results in 20 charges against four people. Two people are in custody and thousands of doses of heroin and fentanyl are off the street after police in Altoona searched two properties in Altoona. 1 gram of heroin, Walter and Eckert currently face multiple drug felony counts of manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, criminal use of communication facility. Celebrating the African American holiday Kwanzaa . December 15, 2021 / 11:08 AM / CBS Pittsburgh. Mercy Hospital established a new credit union with Samuel Raneri as president and BELLWOOD Aquatic design architect Edwin Wallover has been conducting community meetings for pool projects since From Mirror staff reports Walter currently has a monetary bail value set for $500,000 and Eckert has one set for $300,000. BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) - A Roaring Spring man was sentenced Tuesday to serve multiple decades in prison after he pleaded guilty to trafficking a large amount of meth into Blair County in 2021 . She explained how she and Walter would get the drugs from a Puerto Rican contact nicknamed C or Mo. A search of the property at that time revealed more than 15 grams of methamphetamine, illegal vicodin, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. Eckert was arrested at a home in Altoona and was sent to Blair County Central Booking for processing and arraignment while Walter is currently incarcerated and is expected to be arraigned tomorrow, Sept. 24. On Saturday 4/17/21 APD Narcotics officers conducted an investigation into large amounts of heroin being transported Prunty is now facing several charges, including felony conspiracy and drug charges. Redroad is facing suspected charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a narcotic drug, possession of THC, possession of drug paraphernalia, and obstructing an officer. Harrisburg, PA 17120 On August 26, police say Walters vehicle was stopped along Woodbury Pike, in Taylor Township, were he was taken into custody for a parole violation. From Mirror staff reports. Nearly half of the drug dealers arrested today were selling Suboxone. ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) - A multi-vehicle crash on Pleasant Valley Boulevard has left the road closed in both directions . It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Police say 42-year-old Jayme Walter and 43-year-old Erica Eckert were arrested Thursday on charges of drug possession, manufacturing and conspiracy following a three-month investigation by Altoona police, the Blair County District Attorney's office and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. If packaged, the 77 grams of heroin seized could fill at least another 3,850 packets before it was cut with anything. Please enter valid email address to continue. Johnstown,PA 15904, Copyright Email: Citizens are reminded to report suspicious activity. Copyright Altoona Mirror | https://www.altoonamirror.com | 301 Cayuga Ave., Altoona, PA 16602 | 814-946-7411, Its always good when you can have an investigation that targets this scope of distribution,, Its great work by the AG and Altoona police.. In early July, officers responded to a disturbance at the home. Today's breaking news and more in your inbox. ALTOONA, Wis. (WEAU) - A large drug bust in Altoona results in 20 charges against four people. He's set to appear In court on Wednesday. Police say authorities then searched the vehicle and seized the following: Approximately 6 pounds of methamphetamine, DUNCANSVILLE The Calvin House is going to the dogs. ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) Two people are in custody in what police say is one of the biggest methamphetamine busts to ever take place in Blair County with more arrests to come. Walter was hesitant to speak much to police and requested to speak to an attorney. Officials on Sept. 21 would review phone calls in Blair County prison between Eckert and Walter. Altoona police and state narcotics agents executed two search warrants at 6 a.m. Tuesday and seized $186,360 in cash, along with a large stash of suspected fentanyl and heroin, from the two. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. 4.6 ounces of cocaine, 90 Lulay Street, Suite 1 Its always good when you can have an investigation that targets this scope of distribution, Weeks said. Jan 29, 2021, 1:13 PM Eastern Adams Regional Police Department A drug bust in Pennsylvania uncovered bags of marijuana worth $315,000 on Wednesday, police said. Delacruz and Wilt were taken before Magisterial District Judge Ben Jones for arraignment Tuesday and each face charges that include felony criminal conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Police showed her a potential picture of C at the Ramada Inn in Allentown where they met for the last two deals. 717-787-3391. Worked with the insurance industry to expand access to drug treatment. Judge Jones set bail at $500,000 cash for each. 1 gram of heroin, Email: Oct 16, 2021. Mailing Address: Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Inaugural Bill Howerton Baseball/Softball Media Day, Scranton Prep grad Leo OBoyle thriving with Lafayette, District IV individual wrestling championships, District II individual wrestling championships, Weis Market dietitian uses citrus to make something, Award winning chef cooks up some Wonderful dieting, Mental health influencer out to help a million teens, Agnes at Fifty: A look back at the flood of 1972, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Three charged after drug bust Local News. By: KDKA-TV News Staff. Johnstown,PA 15904, Copyright In confiscations conducted over one week in October 2019 alone, the West Drug Task Force seized approximately 12,000 doses of meth totaling over $300,000. Police say they seized nearly 10,000 packets of heroin in total from a home in Altoona and from the vehicle Prunty was in when he was arrested. Todays charges are the result of a year-long cooperative investigation between the Office of Attorney General, Blair County Drug Task Force, Blair County District Attorney Richard Consiglios Office and the Altoona Police Department. Fax: Police got a warrant for Walter's arrest since he was on parole. Altoona police seized about $170,000 in suspected heroin earlier this week during an investigation into drug trafficking between Pittsburgh and Altoona, said Sgt. Harrisburg, PA 17120, Phone: HARRISBURG Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced criminal charges against 72 people for selling heroin, illegal prescription opioids, cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, crack, bath salts and other drugs in Blair County the 9th major drug sweep in the county since he took office in January 2017. Investigators say in late August, authorities were notified that the pair was transporting a large amount of methamphetamine from Allentown to the Altoona area. Anyone with information should contact the FBI Pittsburgh office at. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Assisted suicide bill proposed by 6 Pa Lawmakers, Hungry? What was in the sky Wednesday night in Pennsylvania? Matt Plummer, an Altoona. Investigators say in late August, authorities were notified that the pair was transporting a large amount of methamphetamine from Allentown to the Altoona area. Secora is facing suspected charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of THC (2nd+ offense), possession of drug paraphernalia, and obstructing an officer. Nearly half the arrests made today were for people selling Suboxone, a drug used to treat opioid addition and prevent painful withdrawal symptoms. Let the District Attorney know when they see criminal activity, especially drug trafficking, Blair County District Attorney Peter Weeks said. Citizens are reminded to report suspicious activity. Police say authorities then searched the vehicle and seized the following: Approximately 6 pounds of methamphetamine, Eckert received both her phone and vehicle, that Walter was driving at the time of the traffic stop, due to cooperation with police in identifying C. Eckert met again with officials on Sept. 13 and showed messages from the previous days between her and C. C told her to get in touch with him because he is about to be out again and wanted to know if he should set some aside for her, and he also wanted Js phone number to talk to him, according to the complaint. Vernon Steele, 45, 326 1st Ave., Altoona, is charged with two counts each of possession with intent to deliver or delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance,. HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) The Monroe County coroner is on the scene of a crash that has shut down State Route 33. Officials also found that Eckert actually told C that she was working with police and that she brought up an attempt to deceive police to help Walter get released from jail. On Aug. 26 police along with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General received info that both Eckert and Walter were transporting a large amount of meth from Allentown, Pa to Altoona to be distributed, according to Altoona Police Department's Facebook post. His office has: The Attorney General also thanked Operation Our Town for its support. ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) The Pennsylvania Attorney General's office reported that more than 30 people were arrested Thursday morning in what they called "Operation Ice Breaker." 32 individuals were arrested after the use of wiretaps and a year-long grand jury investigation. 50 years ago: March 1, 1973 Among those arrested was . Police say that a traffic stop occurred at approximately 5:01 p.m. the same day at the 6400 block of Woodbury Pike in Taylor Township. A brick of heroin is 50 packets, and according to police, a typical heroin packet sold on the street in Blair County contains about 0.02 grams of the drug. 12/23/22 Pa Live! The Altoona Police Department says community members first alerted them to possible drug activities taking place in the 700 block of Harriet Street earlier this summer. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. A forensic extraction of Eckerts phone found two phone numbers for C in her phone. Montonya is facing suspected charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of THC (2nd+ offense), possession of drug paraphernalia, obstructing an officer, and felony bail jumping. "Thus, the Suboxone traffic goes hand in hand with opioid addiction in this area and around the state and the county," said Shapiro. This case demonstrates the resources available to all corners of Cambria County, and how those resources are used to keep our citizens safe. 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