May 31, 2016 2 min read

A Donora man was arrested Sunday by Donora police after officers said they found suspected heroin and marijuana during a search of his Fourth Street home.

Dalton Lawson, 22, of 403 Fourth, was charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver and criminal use of a communications device, 18 counts of possession of a controlled substance, four counts of possession of paraphernalia and two counts of possession of marijuana.

Lawson had gone to the police station and asked about getting money that had been seized during a previous incident. When he left the station, police said they spotted him entering the home of a known drug dealer.

About 10 minutes later, police said they encountered Lawson in a parking lot and could small a strong odor of burnt marijuana on his clothing and breath. Police searched him for weapons and said they found a bag of suspected marijuana. He was placed under arrest and taken to the station.

Police asked him about sales of narcotics from his home, because officers had received complaints. Lawson reportedly denied selling drugs, telling police he only smokes marijuana. He also denied accusations reportedly made by a woman who was arrested on a drug paraphernalia charge earlier in the day. She alleged that Lawson supplies her with heroin.

Police went to Lawson’s home, and his mother allowed them inside and opened the door to his room. Police said they obtained a search warrant from District Judge Curtis Thompson after spotting a suspected marijuana pipe and a clear container that appeared to have two bundles of heroin inside.

Police said they then confiscated the suspected heroin, a small bag of marijuana, paraphernalia, a cellphone and $720.

Lawson was arraigned before District Judge Ethan Ward and placed in Washington County jail on $50,000 bond. He is scheduled for a June 13 preliminary hearing before District Judge Mark Wilson.