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Man back behind bars on new drug charges

BUTLER TWP — Authorities say a man out on bail on felony drug charges is back behind bars after a weekend arrest during which police found him with dozens of bags of suspected heroin and several baggies of suspected crack cocaine.

Robert M. Pacelli, 47, of Center Township is facing new felony drug possession charges stemming from his latest arrest. He is in the Butler County Prison on $30,000 bail.

Butler Township police said officers were called to the GetGo convenience store on Route 8 north about 2:25 p.m. Saturday after Pacelli came in apparently under the influence of drugs.

An assisting Butler police officer got there first and noticed the suspect get into a sport utility vehicle and fall asleep, according to court documents.

The officer approached the vehicle, owned by Pacelli, and saw that the transmission was in the neutral position. After awakening him, police said, it appeared the defendant was impaired.

When he got out of the SUV, officers spotted on the driver’s seat an unmarked pill bottle with what appeared to be stamp bags of heroin inside, documents said.

The suspect was arrested, searched and found with more bags of heroin as well as packages of Suboxone and a baggie containing crack, documents said.

An initial search of the vehicle turned up a purple Crown Royal bag filled with hypodermic needles and other drug contraband.

Police impounded the vehicle and took Pacelli to Butler Memorial Hospital for a blood test.

Later at the station, documents said, officers thoroughly searched the suspect’s clothing and SUV and came up with a final tally of suspected drugs — 57 stamp bags and 11 empty bags of heroin, four baggies of crack and five packages of Suboxone.

Police also found him with two pills of the antianxiety drug clonazepam, for which he did not have a prescription.

Additionally, documents said, the search turned up more than 80 unused stamp bags, presumably to be used to package heroin; a plastic tube containing suspected marijuana, rolling papers and $200 in currency.

District Judge Lewis Stoughton on Sunday arraigned Pacelli on a felony charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, and misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, and driving under the influence of drugs.

Police also cited him for driving with a suspended license and public drunkenness.

Stoughton, in setting bail, also imposed a set of rules that Pacelli must follow should he be released. Among the conditions is that he undergo a weekly drug test and a drug and alcohol evaluation.

Pacelli already is awaiting trial on felony and misdemeanor drug charges stemming from an arrest June 13, 2016, when Butler police say they found him with 50 stamp bags of heroin and contraband after a traffic stop.

He was placed in the county prison on $50,000 bail after that arrest. But a week later, court records showed, he was released June 20 on his own recognizance.

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