PENN HILLS, Pa. -- Police in Penn Hills arrested dozens of suspected drug dealers in a roundup Friday morning.

District Attorney Stephen Zappalla said the roundup was two years in the making.

He said more than 50 officers from the Penn Hills and the Swissvale departments, along with the district attorney's office narcotics team, made the arrests.

Police said some of the suspects fled, which was expected. One suspect was found hiding in the ceiling rafters of one home.

According to police, the majority of the warrants they were serving were outstanding, which means the suspects were not arraigned and went straight to jail.

"About two years ago, we started working with the school administrations, a number of school districts in the East Hills," said Zappalla. "What I promised them I would do is in areas where we were experiencing trouble last year or the year before, our guys are going out and arresting people who have adverse influences on these kids. So, this morning, 20 warrants were issued for arrests primarily for drugs. Eighteen search warrants were executed all in the Penn Hills area."

By day's end, Zappalla said he hopes to make 38 arrests.