Suspected cocaine, heroin seized in raid at city home
A Butler man remains behind bars on felony and other drug charges following a raid of his home by county narcotics officers that turned up suspected crack cocaine and heroin and nearly $6,400, authorities said.
James T. “Tony” Matuke Jr. is being held in the Butler County Prison in lieu of $200,000 bond while awaiting his preliminary hearing next week.
The Butler County Drug Task Force, assisted by the county's emergency services unit and city and Butler Township police, executed a search warrant around 2 p.m. Thursday at Matuke's home on the 400 block of West Penn Street.
Officers detained Matuke after they found him on the sidewalk in front of his home, which is a two-story duplex, authorities said. He was carrying $1,030 and a cell phone.
Seized during the search of the home, investigators said, were four baggies containing a total of about 38 grams of suspected crack and a baggie with 7.4 grams of suspected heroin.
Among the other items found were packaging materials, a plastic bag containing $5,000, a box with $332, a stamp bag of suspected drugs, a package of new syringes, a digital scale and at least one additional cell phone.
District Judge William Fullerton arraigned Matuke on two felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, two misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday. Online court records did not list an attorney for him.
