Six arrested in early morning wake-up call by drug agents

EDWARDSVILLE — At least six people were arrested on felony drug trafficking offenses at an apartment complex early Thursday morning.

Shakeal Robinson-Evans, 35, of Bertram Court, Theodis F. Brown, 52, of Beech Street, and Raceedie H. Griffiths, 30, of Beech Street, all in Edwardsville, were taken into custody at the Eagle Ridge Apartment complex just after 6 a.m.

Also arrested were Christopher Belcher, 22, Najm Cooper, 34, and Omar Kelly, 25.

Drug agents with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office, Luzerne County Drug Task Force, Kingston police, Hazleton police, Wilkes-Barre police, Pittston police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team and Homeland Security took part in the arrests and search of several apartments.

Robinson-Evans was charged with separate counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count of criminal use of communication facility.

Brown was charged with separate counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count each of tampering with evidence and criminal use of communication facility.

Griffiths was charged with separate counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count of criminal use of communication facility.

Court records say the drugs that were peddled were crack cocaine, fentanyl, prescriptions and marijuana.

“This investigation would not have been possible without the assistance of Attorney General Michelle Henry. Her experience as a district attorney and understanding of the needs of local law enforcement allowed us to open this matter as an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case. That designation led to the multiple departments involved converging on a known problem area in Edwardsville and disrupting and dismantling this organization,” stated Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce.

When arrest and search warrants were executed, Brown ran to a bathroom and attempted to flush crack cocaine that spilled onto the toilet seat and floor, court records say.

Belcher was charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and criminal use of communication facility.

Cooper was charged with separate counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count of criminal use of communication facility.

Kelly was charged with separate counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count of criminal use of communication facility.

They were arraigned by District Judge Thomas Malloy of Wilkes-Barre.

Robinson-Evans, Brown and Cooper were jailed at the county correctional facility for lack of $1 million bail, each.

Griffiths, Belcher and Kelly were jailed without bail as Malloy deemed them a flight risk and a risk to the community.