Wayne County Drug Task Force

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Wayne County Drug Task Force

Wayne County Drug Task Force “The current Wayne County Drug Task Force was created in 2013 to combat drug activities in our community.

The task force is managed by county detectives with the Wayne County District Attorney’s Office and is made up of police officers from Lehigh Township, Hawley Borough, Honesdale Borough and Waymart Borough. Additional assistance is provided by the Pennsylvania State Police, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and Wayne County Probation Officers. Funding for the task force is provided in part by the

Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. Additional funding is received from money and property seized from drug dealers throughout Wayne County. This funding is used to conduct undercover drug investigations and to reimburse overtime expenses incurred by participating police departments. Aside from conducting undercover drug investigations, members of the task force also conduct several saturation patrols each year, targeting different areas of Wayne County each time. These saturation patrols target a variety of criminal activity, with the emphasis on drug possession and drug impaired driving. Members of the task force also provide training in drug identification and methamphetamine lab awareness.”

06/02/2023

NOW HIRING! Police Officer - Honesdale Borough Police Department, Wayne County, PA

What’s good for you is good for us! The Borough of Honesdale, county seat of Wayne County, is accepting applications for Police Officer as the Borough seeks to increase the size of the police department.

Honesdale is a historic community located in the Lake Wallenpaupack region of the Pocono Mountains. This is an opportunity to work in a stable community with a low cost of living, and an area is a great place to live and raise a family. Did we mention there is no residency requirement, even though we’re right next to the great outdoors: close to hunting, fishing, boating, and other year-round and seasonal activities. Whether you’re starting a police career, or ready to move on to a second police career what’s good for you is good for us!

The Borough of Honesdale Civil Service Commission is accepting applications for police officers. The minimum requirements for a police officer are as follows: (1) at least 20 years of age prior to the application submission deadline, (2) U.S. citizenship, (3) physical fitness to perform the full duties of a police officer, (4) a valid Pennsylvania driver`s license, (5) a high school diploma or graduate equivalency diploma, and (6) valid PA Act 120 certification prior to appointment.

Following submission of a complete and valid application and the required non-refundable fee of $10.00, each eligible applicant who satisfies all applicable requirements for the position will be required to take an agility exam (JULY 9TH) and a written exam (AUGUST 7TH). Applicants who pass both exams will then be scheduled for an oral exam (AUGUST 10). Additional testing and examinations will be required as well.

Applications may be downloaded from this link:

05/26/2023

The Wayne County Detectives are requesting the public's help in locating John "Jack" Francis, age 47, from Moscow, Wayne County, PA. There is an active arrest warrant issued for his arrest for Home Improvement Fraud and related charges. He has made comments that he "won't go back to jail." Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts are asked to contact Wayne County Detective Bendersky at (570) 253-5970, extension 2253.

09/01/2022

The Wayne County Detectives are hiring!

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

POSITION: Wayne County Detective

DEPARTMENT: Wayne County District Attorney’s Office

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Regular, Full-Time (40 hours per week). This position is funded solely by a grant, which runs for 12 months. This position will only be available as long as the grant funds are available, which may be longer than 12 months only if the grant gets re-issued.

SALARY: Currently $45,926.40 - $57,116.80 (depending on experience)

GENERAL SUMMARY:

In Pennsylvania, the position of County Detective is a plain clothes law enforcement position. County Detectives are considered "general police officers" by the courts and as defined by statute. As such, County Detectives are empowered to enforce all criminal and traffic laws of Pennsylvania.

County Detectives are authorized by 16 P.S. § 1440 (The County Code) and provide District Attorneys in Pennsylvania the resources with which to conduct independent criminal investigations and to provide other law enforcement agencies with investigative assistance. County Detectives have full police powers and must meet the same training requirements as municipal police officers in Pennsylvania including certification by the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (MPOETC). County Detectives often come to their positions with extensive experience in law enforcement, usually having served with other law enforcement agencies where they specialized in criminal investigations.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The County Detective applicant must be certified through the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (MPOETC) as a municipal police officer and must have five (5) years of experience working for a municipal police department. Five (5) years of experience with an equivalent state or county level law enforcement agency is also acceptable. The applicant must have, at a minimum, a high school diploma. A college degree with a major in criminal justice is encouraged, but can be substituted with years of full-time law enforcement experience. Experience in handling criminal investigations is mandatory.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position is funded solely by a grant from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The sole purpose of this position is to investigate illegal gambling operations within Wayne County, PA and to make arrests for violations of the Pennsylvania gambling laws. This position is strictly an undercover position and requires the detective to work in plain clothes in establishments that provide gambling and gambling machines to the general public. The detective’s schedule could vary each day based on the demands of the investigation(s).

Please send a cover letter, application, resume and a list of three professional references to:

Wayne County District Attorney’s Office
Attention: Chief Detective Peter Hower
925 Court Street
Honesdale, PA 18431
(Application can be found on the Wayne County website)

03/04/2022

WANTED SUBJECT

PRESS RELEASE

Wayne County District Attorney A.G. Howell announced charges filed against Jeffrey R. Johnson, 42, of Hancock, NY. Johnson is charged with Weapons of Mass Destruction (F2), five (5) counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (F2), Risking Catastrophe (F3), Possession of Controlled Substance (M), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M), and a variety of game violations.

The criminal complaint alleges on February 15, 2022, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department requested assistance serving a warrant for Johnson. During their search for Johnson, they discovered white-tailed deer hanging in the backyard with no visible harvest tags. They also discovered numerous deer parts, wild turkey parts, and remains of black bear. In Johnson’s vehicle they found rifles, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia. It was confirmed that Johnson did not have an active hunting license and was not permitted to own fi****ms. Upon search of the residence, they discovered several more rifles and drug paraphernalia. A search of a camper on the property came up with more paraphernalia, pill bottles with Johnson’s name on them, and what appeared to be synthetic ma*****na. A suspected pipe-style bomb was discovered as well. The Scranton bomb squad was notified and detonated the bomb on location. Scranton bomb squad indicated the bomb was capable of being detonated as designed.

Anyone with information about Johnson's whereabouts are asked to contact the Wayne County Communications Center at (570) 253-3109.

02/04/2022

Drug addiction is a scourge that impacts all of our families. Overdose deat… Wayne County Drug Task Force needs your support for Wayne County Drug Task Force

10/27/2021

The Honesdale Borough Police Department and the PA State Police are attempting to identify the person shown in these pictures. Anyone that can identify this subject is asked to contact Lieutenant Langman at (570) 253-1900 or Trooper Blowers at (570) 253-7126.

07/16/2021

PRESS RELEASE
July 16, 2021

Honesdale Woman Arrested for Delivery of He**in, Methamphetamine and Crack Co***ne

Wayne County District Attorney A.G. Howell announced today the arrest of Kelly Lee Finan, 39, of Honesdale, Wayne County, PA. According to the Criminal Complaint Affidavit of Probable Cause, Finan is charged with 3 counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance, each being a felony, 3 counts of Criminal Use of Communication Facility, each being a felony 3rd degree, and 3 counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, each being a misdemeanor.

In early 2021, the Wayne County Drug Task Force developed a confidential informant that provided information that Finan was selling he**in and crystal methamphetamine in Honesdale Borough, Wayne County, PA. In February 2021, the confidential informant purchased 30 bags of he**in and ½ gram of crystal methamphetamine from Finan. In March 2021, the confidential informant purchased another 30 bags of he**in and ½ gram of crack co***ne from Finan. Later in March 2021, an undercover officer purchased 20 bags of he**in and 2 grams of crystal methamphetamine from Finan. All of the purchases were arranged by the use of a cellphone.

Finan was taken into custody on July 15, 2021 during a traffic stop in Honesdale Borough. A preliminary arraignment was conducted by Magisterial District Judge Myers. Her bail was set at $100,000.00 and she was remanded to the Wayne County Correctional Facility. Her next scheduled court appearance is Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at 9:00am at the Wayne County Courthouse.

During a search of Finan’s vehicle later that day, several zip-lock bags of suspected controlled substances and numerous items of drug paraphernalia were found. Additional charges will be filed once the items are analyzed by the PA State Police Crime Lab.

District Attorney Howell would like to thank the Wayne County Drug Task Force, the Honesdale Borough Police Department and the Pike County Detective Bureau for their assistance in this case. The cooperation of these departments was instrumental in getting a significant drug dealer off the streets of Wayne County.

*The filing of criminal charges is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the Commonwealth against a defendant. A charged Defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the Commonwealth has proven the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt or until the defendant enters a guilty plea to the charges.*

07/01/2021

PRESS RELEASE
June 29, 2021

Operation Clean Sweep

Wayne County District Attorney A.G. Howell announced today that officers from various Wayne County law enforcement agencies conducted a saturation patrol throughout Wayne County on June 23, 2021, named “Operation Clean Sweep”. The purpose of the saturation patrol was to look for drug impaired drivers and other violations related to the illegal possession of controlled substances.

Participating agencies included the Waymart Borough Police Department, the Honesdale Borough Police Department, the Hawley Borough Police Department, the Lehigh Township Police Department, the Wayne County Adult Probation Office, the Wayne County Sheriff Department, and the Wayne County Detectives.

A total of thirty-eight (38) traffic stops were conducted and nine (9) warrants were served, resulting in thirty (30) citations being issued. Three (3) arrests were also made. The Wayne County Probation Office conducted eight (8) unannounced house checks, which resulted in one (1) subject being remanded to the Wayne County Correctional Facility.

District Attorney Howell praised the work of the officers involved and reminded everyone to be safe during this long 4th of July holiday weekend.

*The filing of criminal charges is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the Commonwealth against a defendant. A charged Defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the Commonwealth has proven the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt or until the defendant enters a guilty plea to the charges.

05/20/2021

PRESS RELEASE

May 20, 2021

GOULDSBORO MAN CHARGED WITH
POSSESSING 390 BAGS OF HE**IN

Wayne County District Attorney A.G. Howell announced today that Allen D. Bentler, Jr., age 40 of Gouldsboro, has been charged with Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, a felony, Possession of a Controlled Substance, a misdemeanor, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, and two summary traffic offenses.

According to the criminal complaint affidavit of probable cause filed by Lehigh Township Police Officer Bayshore and Wayne County Detective Hower, on May 15, 2021 at 7:48 pm, Officer Bayshore was positioned at the entrance to the Indian Country development on Squaw Trail at PA Route 507. He observed a black 2005 Honda Civic driven by Bentler that was travelling on PA Route 507 make a right hand turn onto Squaw Trail without using a turn signal. Officer Bayshore conducted a traffic stop of the Honda in the development.

Bentler identified himself to Officer Bayshore and stated that his driver’s license was suspended. Officer Bayshore discovered that Bentler also had an active arrest warrant from Bucks County, PA. Officer Bayshore took Bentler into custody based on the arrest warrant. He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Myers and was remanded to the Wayne County Correctional Facility on $25,000.00 bail, but subsequently released after posting bail on the Bucks County charges.

Bentler’s vehicle was impounded after the traffic stop. On May 17, 2021, Detective Hower drafted a search warrant for Bentler’s vehicle. Detective Hower and Lehigh Township Police Chief Morgan served the search warrant. The following items were found and seized:

• One (1) cardboard box containing several orange capped syringes, one digital scale, one spoon with residue, several empty he**in bags, two lighters and assorted metal pieces of paraphernalia;

• One (1) 2” x 2” zip-lock bag containing crystal methamphetamine;

• One (1) sandwich sized zip-lock bag containing numerous empty he**in bags;

• One hundred (100) full he**in bags in six bundles of ten (10) and twenty (20) bags each;

• Two hundred-fifty (250) full he**in bags in five (5) bundles of 50 bags each;

• One (1) small plastic jar with a pink lid containing white powder.

On May 19, 2021, Bentler was found and taken into custody again. He was brought back in front of Magisterial District Judge Myers for a preliminary arraignment and was remanded back to the Wayne County Correctional Facility on $50,000.00 bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 26, 2021 at 9:00 am at the Wayne County Courthouse.

District Attorney A.G. Howell stated “The extra steps taken in the investigation by the Lehigh Township Police Department and Wayne County Detectives are to be commended for their ongoing work to keep drugs out of our county.”

*The filing of criminal charges is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the Commonwealth against a defendant. A charged Defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the Commonwealth has proven the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt or until the defendant enters a guilty plea to the charges.

05/17/2021

PRESS RELEASE

Forfeiture Funds Purchase Equipment to Assist Police

May 17, 2021

Wayne County District Attorney A.G. Howell announced today the purchase of close to $9,000.00 worth of police equipment for the Honesdale Borough Police Department over the past year. The money was taken from the Wayne County Drug Forfeiture account, which is funded by money and property seized from local drug dealers that were arrested by the police department during the past few years. Purchased was a video surveillance system for their police station, three ruggedized computer tablets, a Cannon EOS camera and two digital recorders, totaling $8,816.33.

Pennsylvania Statutes provide that property used or intended to be used in violation of the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act along with money that is used to purchase controlled substances or is the proceeds of the sale of controlled substances is subject to forfeiture. Once seized, property and money that is forfeited is transferred to the custody of the District Attorney and placed in the Drug Forfeiture account. The District Attorney may then designate that the money to be utilized by local police departments for the criminal investigations of drug offenses. That includes the purchase of equipment which aids in the actual investigations of drug offenses.

District Attorney Howell stated “Our local law enforcement agencies need the necessary modern tools to fight crime and improve the effectiveness of our police. These expenditures reinforce the commitment by the DA’s office and law enforcement to protecting our community whenever and however pos

Address

925 Court St
Honesdale, PA
18431

Telephone

+15702534912

Website

http://waynecountypa.gov/

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