'HONEST' PHOENIXVILLE MAN ADMITS HE DROPPED HEROIN

EAST PIKELAND - A Phoenixville man was arrested on drug charges Monday
after he allegedly dropped two bags of heroin inside Citadel Federal Credit
Union.

[name redacted], 25, of the first block of East Walnut Street, is charged
with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia
and disorderly conduct.

According to court documents, officer Ken Smith responded to the Citadel
Federal Credit Union, 558 Kimberton Road, for a report of possible drugs
found in the bank around 1:52 p.m. Aug. 16. Smith said upon arrival, he
spoke with bank management, who advised him that one of the bank tellers
found two bags of a white powder in a blue wrapper lying on the floor of
the bank in front of the bank counter.

"The teller put the packages in a white envelope and gave them to the
manager," Smith said. "The packages were found on the carpet just past the
tile, in front of a teller's window."

A teller told Smith that a man, identified as [name redacted], was fumbling
with his hands in his pockets, then stepped up to the bank teller counter
in front of the other teller.

"She said he was waited on and then left the bank," Smith said.
"Approximately 15 minutes later, [name redacted] returned to the bank and
walked around as if he was looking for something on the ground. After a few
minutes, [name redacted] left the bank. After he left, (bank management)
called 911."

The teller who waited on [name redacted] told police that [name redacted]
seemed to be searching his pockets while standing in line.

Smith said he was provided with a copy of the check that was cashed, and it
was written out to [name redacted] and had his information on the back next
to his signature, including his home address.

"Upon pulling up to the address, [name redacted] was walking on the
sidewalk," he said. "I asked him his name and he advised [name redacted]. I
asked [name redacted] if he was at the Citadel Bank a few minutes ago and
if he dropped anything when he was there. He responded, 'Two bags of heroin'."

[name redacted] was placed under arrest and handcuffed, and police
recovered a needle in the left front pocket of his pants. He was
transported to East Pikeland Police Station prior to being live-scanned at
Schuylkill Township Police Station.

[name redacted] was arraigned before District Judge Gwenn Knapp in West
Chester, and was released on $10,000 unsecured bail.

His next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 2, at 10 a.m.
before District Judge Ted Michaels in Phoenixville.