Published: April 01, 2009 11:42 pm      

Drug probe nets 23

EBENSBURG — A total of 23 Portage-area drug suspects have been arrested in the past three weeks, authorities on Wednesday.

The group was described as major drug dealing ring, allegedly putting $10,000 worth of illegal drugs on the streets each month.

Suspects were selling crack cocaine, heroin, prescription pills, ecstasy and marijuana, Cambria County District Attorney Patrick Kiniry said.

Two of the suspects are father and son, Raymond Foreman Sr., 42, of Dulancey Drive and Raymond Foreman Jr., 21, of the 900 block of Johnson Ave.

A brother and sister – Julia Swope, 22, of Upper Road and Damian Swope, 21, of the 400 block of Main Street – also were caught in the sweep, said Ed Miller, Portage Borough police chief.

During the investigation, authorities seized $2,000 in cash and drugs valued at $7,000.

Joshua Oswalt, 23, of the 600 block of Farren Street, was described as the kingpin, police said.

Authorities said high-level dealers were Patrick Flynn, 22, of the 300 block of Plane Road; Christopher Kapustka, 29, of the 1600 block of Kent Street; and Chad Mathieson, 28, of Puritan Road, all of Portage.

“We had 23 people targeted, we have arrested 23 people. It was a good day,” said Patrick Kiniry, Cambria County district attorney.

All but two of the suspects are from Portage Borough or Portage Township. One is from South Fork and one is from Lilly.

The investigation began nine months ago, when authorities started looking at a few potential dealers. Kiniry said the probe quickly spread to others.

The source of the drugs is believed to be the Pittsburgh area, but Kiniry declined further comment, calling the investigation ongoing.

He praised Portage-area residents who brought their concerns to authorities.

“I want to emphasize the degree to which the people of Portage helped us, contacting Chief Miller and the District Attorney’s office,” Kiniry said. “They got descriptions of these people (and) the vehicles they were driving,” he said.

Arrests started March 13 and concluded early Wednesday, when the final 10 suspects were taken into custody.

Miller, a retired state trooper who was named chief of the borough department in September, said he was aware of a drug problem in the Portage area. But he did not realize its magnitude until being on the job about a month.

“People were coming in. They did a lot of talking. I showed concern, and then more people came in,” Miller said.

Cambria County Chief Deputy Sheriff Bob Kunko, an area resident who assisted in the investigation, said progress has been made.

“Today’s arrest put a huge dent on the drug problem,” Kunko said. “My residents are sick and tired of the drugs.”



List of suspects

The following are drug suspects in a bust announced Wednesday. All are from Portage unless otherwise noted:

Jeremy Bitter, 28, 700 block of Frankstown Road, South Fork.

Robert Caldwell, 28, 700 block of Main Street.

Patrick Flynn, 42, 300 block of Plane Road.

Raymond Foreman Jr., 21, 900 block of Johnson Avenue.

Raymond Foreman Sr., 42, 600 block of Dulancey Drive.

Wayne Gather, 21, 900 block of Wayne Avenue.

Katilyn Helsel, 19, 500 block of Main Street.

Christopher Kapustka, 29, 1600 block of Kent Street.

Jesse Kiel, 18, 1800 block of Munster Road.

Chad Mathieson, 28, 1800 block of Puritan Road.

Christi Maxwell, 32, 300 block of Johnson Avenue.

Sara Mikitko, 26, 1800 block of Puritan Road.

Aaron Miller, 22, 1500 block of Gillespie Avenue.

Ryan Nadolsky, 20, 800 block of Noels Creek Road, Lilly.

Joshua Oswalt, 22, 600 block of Farren Street.

Susan Prosser, 44, Terrace Circle.

Donald Rakar, 36, 1800 block of Springhill Road.

Barry Salkeld, 51, 600 block of Dulancey Drive.

Charles Saloney, 30, 600 block of Farren Street.

Jason Swintosky, 26, 1200 block of Beech Street.

Damian Swope, 21, 400 block of Main Street.

Julia Swope, 22, 100 block of Upper Road.

Ernest Yahnert, 26, 800 block of Main Street.