SHAMOKIN - Police used a confidential informant to bring charges against a city man accused of selling small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, Spice and prescription hydrocodone.
Jason Russell, 27, of 510 E. Commerce St., was arrested Tuesday after a search warrant for his home was served shortly after 8 p.m.
Police allegedly found six packets of Spice, a synthetic marijuana, hidden in a bathroom ceiling. Plastic bags believed to have been used to package narcotics, a cell phone allegedly used to set up deals with the informant and $312 was also reportedly seized.
Russell was arraigned on multiple felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal use of a communication facility and criminal conspiracy.
He was jailed at Northumberland County Prison, Sunbury, on $50,000 cash bail, where he remained Thursday. A preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic is scheduled for Tuesday.
Cpl. Bryan Primerano is the arresting officer. The investigation was conducted jointly by Shamokin police and Northumberland Montour Drug Task Force.
Police cited in court documents six separate controlled drug buys, four in October and two this month in which the confidential informant was surveilled by police.
An unnamed codefendant, who also is wanted by police, initiated the first transaction on the informant's behalf, allegedly calling Russell on Oct. 3 to arrange a $20 deal for marijuana, according to court documents.
Police say similar small deals followed: $20 for marijuana again on Oct. 3, $15 for marijuana and $30 for four hydrocodone tablets on Oct. 7, $110 for marijuana and cocaine on Oct. 11, $20 for Spice on Feb. 4 and another $20 for Spice early Tuesday morning.
A police affidavit says Russell admitted to selling Spice and using cocaine but denied having sold any cocaine.