Heroin seized, couple arrested in Butler drug raid

BUTLER, Pa. — Butler County’s district attorney is waging a war on drugs. Signs are going up all over town that read, “Not in my neighborhood.”

Two of the most recent arrests were Jennifer Thomas and Thomas Tillman.

They were taken into custody when officers served a search warrant at a home on N. Washington Street in the city of Butler. Police seized 230 stamp bags of heroin, 22 bags of crack cocaine, marijuana and cash.

“We heard some flash bangs,” a neighbor said. “The whole house shook.”

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The home is right across from the city building and a block away from the police department.

The Butler County drug task force is made up of four county detectives. Local police officers assist in drug raids. Sheriff Mike Slupe said more manpower is needed. He wants 16 of his deputies to join the task force.

Slupe said deputies in Washington, Lawrence and Mercer counties are already involved in drug arrests.

“The county commissioners and the opioid seminars, (we need to) bring a lot more education to the people out there,” said Sheriff Mike Slupe. “We need more enforcement as well. There’s no single right answer, but putting them all together is better than not having anything at all.”

Butler County commissioners have to vote on the proposal. The next public meeting is May 18. A vote is not expected until June.

Cox Media Group