LANCASTER, Pa. – Police seize drugs, a “stun” gun and five ancient coins following a raid on a Lancaster City apartment.
The Lancaster Police Bureau Selective Enforcement Unit executed a search warrant at about 4 p.m. on May 5th at apartment #3 at 314 S. Queen Street. During a month long investigation undercover officers had made several controlled purchases of heroin from the apartment building where the suspect in the case, Joessie Abrahante-Torres, 51, resided.
Abrahante-Torres, who was known to police prior to the investigation, had made sales from the common area of the apartment building and used the front entrance of the building to store the heroin he intended to distribute. The search warrant incorporated the common area of the apartment building and the suspects residence.
Upon execution of the search warrant officers immediately located 30 bags of heroin stashed in a pink children’s shoe on a dresser shelf just inside the buildings main entrance. Officers then located 126 bags of heroin, separated into nine bundles of fourteen bags each, in a backpack also located in the hallway of the apartment building. When officers moved to the suspects residence they found another 71 bags of heroin in a dresser drawer of the suspects bedroom. All of the bags had the same identifying stamp and were all packaged for sale in the same manner.
While the search of the apartment continued officers seized a pair of brass knuckles and an electronic incapacitation device, commonly referred to as a “stun gun”. Abrahante-Torres had plead guilty to a burglary charge in 2010 which makes him a felon, prohibiting him from possessing the electronic device.
Officers also located packaging material for the sole purpose of heroin distribution, eight prescription pills for Acetaminophen/Oxycodone, for which the suspect does not have a prescription and a small amount of marijuana. The suspect upon arrest was also found be in possession of a small amount of cocaine.
Charges against Abrahante-Torres include, Possession With Intent to Deliver Heroin, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Offensive Weapons and Felon Not to Possess an Incapacitation Device. Following arraignment he was sent to Lancaster County Prison on $150,000 bail.
Also within the apartment officers found a large amount of power tools including numerous DeWalt drills, Skil brand power tools as well as Craftsman, Rigid, Kobalt and Hitachi electric and cordless tools. There were also several new and unused Pittsburgh brand hand tools still attached to plastic sales cases. Officers also located assorted women’s jewelry, approximately one thousand major league sports trading cards and two digital cameras.
Mixed in with the new material were also five ancient coins. After meeting with a local ancient coin expert officers learned that the coins were minted during the rule of the Roman Emperor Trajan who ruled from 98 A.D. until his death in 117 A.D.
Officers are eager to return these artifacts, including the tools, back to their proper owner. If anyone has any information regarding the owner of any of the items please contact Sgt. Damon Greathouse at (717) 735-3455 or by e-mail at greathod@police.co.lancaster.pa.us to make arrangements for return.
