Nov 18, 2014 3 min read

A six-month investigation by Canonsburg police and agents with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency into alleged drug activity in the borough not only got suspected dealers off the streets but may cut down on related crime, police said.

Canonsburg police and the DEA conducted a drug sweep Tuesday, serving warrants on suspected street- to mid-level drug dealers.

Police obtained warrants for the arrest of 17 suspected dealers. Purchases of illegal drugs, mostly heroin but also cocaine and marijuana, were made by undercover officers or confidential informants.

Arraigned Tuesday before District Judge David Mark on charges including possession and possession with intent to deliver drugs were Rebecca Lynn Cumpston, 26, of 107 Locust St., Muse; Edwin Davis, 25, of 250 W. Hallam Ave., Washington; Timothy Gamble, 19, of 603 S. Central Ave., Canonsburg; Bradley Huber, 23, of 123 Bower Hill Road, Venetia; Israel Johnson, 32, of 509 S. Central Ave., Canonsburg; Ronald McMillan Jr., 22, of 740 Ewing St., Washington; Harry Wilson Jr., 28, of 205 Orchard Ave., Canonsburg; and Heather Young, 34, of 563 Brigich Road, Canonsburg. Mark set bond at $25,000 for all eight, and they were placed in Washington County jail.

Detective Sgt. Al Coghill said many of the alleged dealers were traveling to Pittsburgh once a day, or in some cases several times a day, and returning to Canonsburg.

“Most are also users who do it to support their habit, which in some cases costs them hundreds a day,” Coghill said. “There are also drivers who will take the dealers to and from Pittsburgh and take a share or tax for delivering them.

“Many of them are not from Canonsburg,” he added. “But they come here to sell, meeting their buyers in parking lots or on the streets.”

Coghill said the drug activity is directly related to many of the street-level crimes affecting the community.

“We feel getting these dealers will make the most impact on the streets,” Coghill said. “They are the ones the general public has to deal with, because they are the ones breaking into vehicles, homes and businesses, or stealing scrap metal to support their habit.

“We are looking at these arrests as a way to reduce crime,” he said. “Oftentimes, we cannot catch the people committing the property crime, but we may be able to catch them selling drugs.”

Mayor David Rhome said drug dealing will not be tolerated, adding public safety is always of utmost concern.

“National statistics show that by removing these individuals from society, crime is reduced whether it is burglaries, robberies or thefts,” Rhome said. “I would like to applaud those residents who have passed on information to the police. With this information, it has allowed us to work with neighboring departments and the DEA, (and) that made the sweep a success.”

Coghill said the drug investigations are made possible by the department’s close working relationship with the DEA, which provides both financial resources and manpower. A borough police officer is assigned as a DEA task force member.

The sergeant expects those not taken into custody Tuesday will be picked up in the next few days.

Also assisting in Tuesday’s sweep were officers from Cecil, Chartiers and Peters townships, Bentleyville, Washington, the Washington County district attorney’s office and the county adult probation office.

Those taken into custody face a Dec. 12 preliminary hearing before Mark.