Apr 7, 2015 4 min read

The Monongahela police chief said Tuesday tips from the public resulted in the arrest of a dozen people on drug charges late Monday and Tuesday morning.

“It was done in-house,” Chief Brian Tempest said of the three-month investigation. “The buys were made using confidential informants, as well as officers working undercover.”

“We had been getting tips about activity in the 400 block of Chess Street, as well as one on Lincoln Street. Both areas are residential,” he added. “Our sources were reported that a car stops, someone gets out and goes into the house. Then they run back and the car drives away.”

Tempest said police also received a credible tip Tuesday that a vehicle with a brick of heroin inside it would be coming into town on Cemetery Hill.

“About 1 p.m., officers spotted a vehicle matching the description coming down the hill and made a traffic stop,” Tempest said.

Inside the vehicle were Michelle Grcich, 30, and Henry H. Mock, III, 42, both of 510 Cuff St., Monongahela. Tempest said police recovered a brick of heroin. Both were arraigned before District Judge Mark Wilson on charges of possession and possession with intent to deliver heroin and possession of paraphernalia. Mock, who was on bond from a previous drug arrest, was placed in Washington County jail on $250,000 bond. Grcich was placed in jail on $50,000 bond.

Matthew Chacko, 36, of 130 Factory St., Monongahela, was charged with possession and possession with intent to deliver heroin and oxycodone, as well as possession of paraphernalia and criminal use of a communications facility. He was also arraigned before Wilson and put in jail on $100,000 bond.

Three people living at 425 Chess were taken into custody. Martin Bindi, 62, is charged with possession and possession with intent to deliver oxycodone. He was placed in jail on $25,000 bond set by Wilson. Bond on Christine Fine, 50, was set at $100,000 on charges of criminal use of a communications device and possession and possession with intent to deliver oxycodone.

Joshua Loutitt, 22, was arraigned before Wilson on charges of obstruction of justice, tampering with evidence and false reports stemming from a previous call at the home involving a girl overdosing, Tempest said. He also was charged with possession of heroin and paraphernalia. He was jailed on $20,000 bond.

Christopher O’Brien, 19, and his mother, Amy O’Brien, 42, were taken into custody at their home at 617 Lincoln on charges of possession with intent to deliver heroin and marijuana. They were released from jail after each posted $25,000 bond.

Terri Elizabeth Reaves, 29, of 16 Dolley Lane, Gastonville, was released from jail after posting $5,000 bond after she was arraigned on charges of possession of heroin and paraphernalia stemming from a traffic stop.

Donald L. Mitchell, 34, of 136 First Ave., New Eagle, was taken into custody late Tuesday afternoon on charges of possession and possession with intent to deliver heroin and criminal use of a communications facility. He was placed in jail on $500,000. It was not clear why the bond was set so high.

Michael Magiske, 29, of 207 Nantucket Drive, Monongahela, is currently in jail on a bench warrant. He will be arraigned at a later date on new charges of possession and possession with intent to deliver heroin and possession of paraphernalia after he was found with a bundle of heroin.

Nicholas Scott Henderson, 30, of 509 Madiera St., New Eagle, was found with unknown pills when taken into custody. He was arraigned before Wilson on charges of possession and possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession of paraphernalia as well as possession of the pills. He was jailed on $30,000 bond.

Tempest urged residents to continue to provide police with tips.

“We have additional warrants that we will be serving,” he added.

Carroll Township police assisted with the sweep.