Local

Mon Valley narcotics probe leads to multiple arrests

PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County police announced 17 felony arrest warrants were obtained in connection with an eight-month narcotics investigation in the Mon Valley.

Suspects reside in McKeesport, White Oak, Glassport, Clairton, Jefferson Hills and the North Side of Pittsburgh, according to a county police news release.

County detectives made numerous buys of heroin and crack cocaine, resulting in the seizure of 5 1⁄2 bricks of heroin, the release stated.

Nine of the 17 suspects were apprehended early on Friday by detectives and officers from the county, McKeesport and White Oak police departments; the other eight remained at-large as of presstime.

White Oak police Chief Lou Bender confirmed his officers' participation in the drug roundup.

"The Allegheny County police do a great job," Bender said. "They always include the local departments in what they're doing and keep us up to date on the investigation. It's always been a great working relationship with the Allegheny County police."

Bender could not confirm if any of the suspects arrested on Friday are from White Oak.

McKeesport Capt. of Detectives Tim Hanna said three of the suspects arrested on Friday were in McKeesport, three were outside the city and two were already in Allegheny County Jail on other charges.

McKeesport arrests included one along the 2400 block of Walnut Street, and one in the 1900 block of Grandview Avenue.

Hanna commended the county narcotics unit and city officers.

"We work well with them, and they're always helping out," Hanna said.

This article was written by Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE.