Jun 4, 2015 2 min read

A Canonsburg man already on probation for a drug arrest just over two years ago faces even more drug charges following a raid early Thursday at his home.

Eric Edward Chronister, 31, of 120 Oak Spring Road, was taken into custody about 6 a.m. after Canonsburg police and agents from the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, state police vice unit and the Washington Regional CERT team surrounded his home. Also taken into custody on a bench warrant was Christopher Nazarek, 31, of Canonsburg.

Inside the house, investigators found suspected marijuana, liquid methadone and 141 Suboxone strips. Police said Chronister’s three children, ranging in age from 3 to 9, were also in the house.

Police Chief Al Coghill said the arrest is a result of a joint investigation by borough police, the DEA and vice unit.

“The house has been a problem for some time,” Coghill said. “We have served search warrants there in the past.”

Coghill also praised the job done by the CERT team in taking Chronister and Nazarek into custody. Police used the team because they had information that a person staying in the house had automatic rifles. No weapons were found Thursday.

Chronister was charged with child endangerment because the drugs were readily accessible to the children, Coghill added.

Coghill said police were getting complaints about the traffic in and out of the house. Mayor David Rhome said police take the complaints seriously, although they are not always able to act on them immediately.

Chronister was arrested in January 2013 after police found a few pounds of marijuana and drug paraphernalia after serving a warrant at his home. Chronister pleaded guilty that October to possession of marijuana and paraphernalia and was sentenced to nine to 18 months in Washington County jail. He is currently on probation for those charges.

Coghill said the investigation is continuing.

He was arraigned before District Judge David Mark on charges of possession and possession with intent to deliver marijuana, Suboxone and methadone, possession of paraphernalia and three counts of child endangerment. He was placed in jail on $50,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for June 17 before Mark. Nazarek was placed in jail on the bench warrant.