Anthony Puglisi

BUTLER TWP — A homeless man managed to dodge a drug possession charge when he flushed several bags of suspected heroin down a toilet at a convenience store, authorities said.

But Anthony M. Puglisi's attempt Friday to beat the rap entirely also went down the drain.

Butler Township police say an officer caught a glimpse of the swirling contraband before it disappeared.

Puglisi, 26, was arrested and arraigned on charges of tampering with physical evidence, possession of drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness. He remains free on $2,500 bail.

Police found the defendant about 3:25 p.m. when they got to the Sheetz store on Route 8 after being called for an intoxicated man.

Officers immediately recognized Puglisi who they know to be a drug user, according to court documents. He was in his car but quickly walked into the store when he saw police.

Police stopped the suspect, who claimed he had lost one of his eyeglass lenses in the bathroom. An officer walked into the bathroom with Puglisi, who appeared to look around.

He then walked up to the toilet and, with his back turned to the officer, managed to reach into his pants and remove the alleged heroin.

“I approached just in time to see him throw four stamp bags into the toilet,” the officer said in his affidavit.

At least two of the bags were folded and appeared to be full.

But it was too late to salvage the evidence, police said, as the defendant had also hit the flush handle.

Police, however, did find one empty stamp bag that had fallen onto the floor in front of the toilet.

“That was just stupid,” the officer told Puglisi afterward.

According to the affidavit, the defendant replied, “Anyone would have gotten rid of the stuff. I had to try.”