Drug task force takes multiple accused dealers off Altoona streets

ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — Police had a busy week by taking alleged drug dealers off the streets of Altoona after months of controlled buys, court dockets show.

Altoona and Logan Township police, along with agents from the Office of the Attorney General locked up multiple alleged dealers — one of which made three controlled buys within three weeks in July.

Samantha “Sammie” Queen , 36, of Altoona, was charged in three separate drug buys that took place in July. According to the criminal complaint, Queen was contacted by informants and met them around the city.

Agents said she met one at a church in the Juniata section of Altoona for heroin, and another near a small business in the east-end area of the city for methamphetamine. The third time, police said the informant went to her home and made the deal for crystal meth, police noted.

On Oct. 15, an arrest warrant was executed for Queen at a residence on N. 7th Avenue. Queen and Eric Stitt, 26, of Belszano, were found inside with $1,320 worth of heroin in stamp bags, three grams of fentanyl, two ounces of meth, $1,488 in cash, various drug paraphernalia and packaging material, a notebook detailing weights and prices for drugs and multiple cell phones, according to Altoona police .

Queen was arraigned and bail was set at $125,000. Stitt’s bail was set at $200,000. Both are currently in Blair County Prison.

Lemarius Ford , 35, of Altoona, was charged after allegedly stealing $500 from a controlled buy and leaving the informant with a bag full of half-eaten food and other garbage.

According to the complaint, members of the Blair County Drug Taskforce met with someone who said they could get cocaine from Ford. Agents said they arrived at Martin’s on Chestnut Avenue where the informant spoke with Ford in his sedan. It was noted that the agent was able to see Ford’s face and identify him before Ford handed the informant a brown sack full of items.

Ford allegedly sped off and when agents looked in the bag, there was half-eaten food and a bag of chips inside. According to the charges, Ford was called and he claimed he thought he gave them the right bag and said he’d make it right.

Ford was charged Tuesday with possession with intent to deliver and theft by unlawful taking. Bail was set at $225,000. He’s currently in Blair County Prison.

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Sarah Ball , 43, of Altoona, was charged after a controlled buy for heroin in April that didn’t seem to go as planned, according to her criminal complaint.

Members of the task force from the Logan Township Police Department attempted to set up a buy for $100 worth of heroin, charges show. However, when the informant spoke with Ball, she allegedly said that she owed her dealer $40 and wasn’t sure he would give her the 10 bags to sell.

After a little back and forth, the complaint reads that the informant was only able to buy two bags of heroin for $40.

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Ball was also arraigned Tuesday on possession with intent to deliver charges. Her bail was set at $75,000. She’s currently in Blair County Prison with Ford, Queen and Stitt.

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