Authorities report seeing alleged drug deal go down in city
While conducting surveillance Tuesday in the area of North Cedar and East New Castle streets in Butler, a county narcotics officer watched a drug deal, authorities said, that landed the alleged seller behind bars. The suspected buyer also is facing charges.
Terrance M. Jefferson, 41, of Butler was arraigned on a felony charge of delivery of a controlled substance. He was placed in the Butler County Prison on $10,000 bond following arraignment.
In response to complaints of drug activity, the Butler County Drug Task Force said officers were surveilling the area around 3 p.m. when they spotted a man, later identified as Robert L. Jones III, 33, of Butler walk up to a Dumpster behind St. Paul Roman Catholic Church.
A short time later, officers said, Jefferson appeared and met up with Jones.
“(Jones) handed Jefferson what appeared to be currency, and Jefferson handed Jones a small item,” according to charging documents.
County Detective Tim Fennell, who leads the task force, noted that the suspected transaction was photographed and documented.
Officers stopped both suspects shortly after they split up. Jones was searched and found with nine stamp bags of suspected heroin. He admitted that he had just bought them from a man he knew as “T.J.”
Jefferson was stopped near his home on East Brady Street. Officers said he had four $20 bills in his right hand. Fennell noted $80 is the approximate street price for nine to 10 bags of heroin.
