A Butler man caught with several dozen bags of suspected heroin claimed he has a 45-bags-a-day habit, authorities said.

Jeffrey E. West Jr., 35, faces a hearing next month in the misdemeanor drug case.

A probation officer was on duty July 20 at Butler Memorial Hospital where he happened to find West, who was visiting his girlfriend, said county Detective Tim Fennell, who heads the Butler County Drug Task Force.

The probation office, it turned out, was looking for West, who was wanted on a bench warrant issued in June after he failed to appear for a court hearing stemming from a probation violation in an unrelated drug case, according to court records.

The suspect was arrested and searched. Investigators said they found him with a small rock of suspected crack cocaine and a crack pipe.

He was taken to the probation office for processing. Later, charging documents said, the probation officer found a plastic baggie containing 69 stamp bags of suspected heroin, which West allegedly tried to get rid of unnoticed.

Fennell on July 22 interviewed the defendant at the Butler County Prison where he was taken for the warrant. He allegedly acknowledged “dumping” the heroin at the probation office. He also admitted that he “shoots 45 bags of heroin a day,” according to court documents.

Fennell charged him with possession of a controlled substance. A preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 24 before District Judge Pete Shaffer.

Court records showed West has prior felony drug convictions in Butler and Allegheny counties.