LANCASTER -- A 28-year-old man was arrested Saturday afternoon after Lancaster County Sheriff's Office K9 Casper helped Manheim Police discover more than 400 bags of heroin stashed in his vehicle during a traffic stop, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office.
Sadi Corretger was charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin, resisting arrest, and driving on a suspended license after the traffic stop, which occurred along North Wolf Street.
Officer Kirk Colwell with the Manheim Township Police department credited a tip from the community, which led to the stop.
“One of the community residents here in the borough, they saw what appeared to be a transaction, a drug transaction occur,” said Officer Colwell.
Officer Colwell also said the Manheim Police Department had past contacts with Corretger involving narcotics and weapons violations.
Police called for K9 Officer Casper, who alerted them to narcotics hidden in the passenger side door. Police searched inside the vehicle and found the heroin stash inside a passenger console. A black plastic bag was found containing three brick-shaped packages with bundles of heroin. The 420 bags were stamped with a “HULK’ brand. Police also found $1,047 cash in the vehicle.
While arresting Corretger, he resisted by balling his fists, flailing his arms and shoving officers in attempts to get back in his vehicle, authorities say.
Officer Colwell said Corretger kept trying to get back inside his car.
As three officers struggled to control Corretger, Officer Colwell said they had no choice but to use K9 Casper for apprehension.
According to court documents, K9 Casper subdued Corretger with a bite to his front torso.
After releasing Casper, Officer Colwell said they arrested Corretger and gave him medical attention.
Colwell also said the arrest served as a "perfect" example for the hours of patrol and narcotics training they do with K9 Casper when they need him to change gears from search to apprehension.
“He has to be up to par. He’s going to be in situations where I’m going to need him at a drop of a dime,” said Officer Colwell.
While Colwell says K9 Casper takes his time at the office seriously, his work life doesn't define him.
“He’s a teddy bear. When we’re not working, people don’t, you don’t expect him to be a police K9," said Colwell.
The Manheim Police Department says they rely on community donations to keep the K9 program going.
They said anyone can donate any amount in-person at the station, by mail, online or by contacting them on their Facebook page.
