‘Operation Reclaim Renovo’ – UPDATE
State police Vice/Narcotics Unit Details Results of Drug Sweep in Renovo and Elsewhere
RENOVO – Law enforcement officials tonight released a compilation of those arrested resulting from a series of recent drug raids in Clinton County, most recently today’s far-ranging sweep concentrated in Renovo, part of what they are calling “Operation Reclaim Renovo.”
Corporal Brad Eisenhower, head of the Troop F Vice/Narcotics Unit from state police Troop F headquarters in Montoursville, led the raids in the Renovo area.
He later released a two page statement on the results. It said over the course of the past several months the vice unit “conducted an undercover investigation…into the distribution of narcotics in Renovo.” The investigation resulted in arrest warrants obtained this week on nine Renovo residents and the crimes they are accused of committing:
Chad Derek Brooks, 31, sale of crack-cocaine
Mitchell Robert Coover, 31, sale of crack-cocaine
Robert Charles Wertz, 38, sale of marijuana on three occasions, possession with intent to deliver manufacture of indoor marijuana (128 live plants and 10 pounds of dried marijuana)
Carolyn Beth Halter, 44, possession with intent to deliver marijuana, indoor grow of 128 live plants and 10pounds of dried marijuana
Amy Sue Wybieracki, 39, sale of klonapin and subutex
Chastity Fleisher, 37, sale of crack-cocaine
Andre Laquan Franklin, 40, sale of crack-cocaine
Michael S. Stevens, 46, sale of crack-cocaine, possession of stolen firearm
Randy Mooney, 39, sale of crack-cocaine.
Eisenhower’s release said one additional felony drug arrest warrant on a Renovo resident will be served next week, an ongoing case involving the sale of crack-cocaine.
He also reported these misdemeanor charges filed:
Tina Frankenfield, 43, possession of drug paraphernalia
Edward Franklin, 33, possession of a small amount of marijuana
His report said those listed above had warrants served today with the exceptions of Brooks and Andre Franklin. He said Franklin was supposed to turn himself in yesterday; however he failed to do so. Brooks, Eisenhower said, is currently in custody in Buffalo on burglary charges stemming from a Renovo incident. He will be extradited back to Pennsylvania in the near future to face those burglary charges, the report said, as well as additional charges on multiple counts of delivering crack-cocaine to an undercover state police vice/narcotics member on four separate occasions.
He said during the course of serving the warrants numerous residences were searched. “Those searches will result in future misdemeanor charges being filed against 10 additional persons in the weeks to come.”
And tonight’s state police public information report said that during the past 10 months, undercover investigations throughout other areas of Clinton County resulted in these arrests:
Rodney Bowmaster, 19, Lock Haven, sale and possession of bath salts
Chase Austin Leam, 19, Lock Haven, sale of cocaine
Craig Allison Laubach Jr., 22, Lock Haven, attempted sale of marijuana/theft/sale of Ritalin
Zachery T. Klinefelter, 19, Mill Hall, sale of synthetic marijuana
Maria Lynn Shelley, 27, Lock Haven/Williamsport, PWID cocaine
Terry David Gregory, 21, Lock Haven, sale of methamphetamines
Kasarea Hahn, 26, Lock Haven, sale of methamphetamines
Antany Childress, 29, Lock Haven, sale of methamphetamines
Eisenhower said Leam, Laubach, Klinefelter, Shelley and Gregory were all served with felony warrants and arrested today. Bowmaster, Hahn and Childress have already been prosecuted, he said.
Since November of 2015, through what he called aggressive efforts of the PSP Troop F Criminal Interdiction Unit, these arrests resulted:
Melody Witherite, 37, Mill Hall, possession of marijuana and paraphernalia
Logan Coatman, 26, Lock Haven, PWID heroin
Dale Snavely, 33, Lock Haven, possession of pills
Katrina Matter, 38, Lock Haven, delivery
Marvin Griddle, 44, Lock Haven, sale of heroin
Michael Pena, 26, Northumberland, sale of oxycodone
Clary Molina, 36, Northumberland, sale of oxycodone
Vincent Sojka, 23, Lock Haven, attempted sale of adderol
Matthew Young, 26, Beech Creek, PWID heroin
Richard Herman, 25, Lock Haven, possession of marijuana and PDP
Police said charges are pending on six additional persons from within Clinton County by the Criminal Interdiction United.
Eisenhower’s report repeated what he had told therecord-online earlier:
“Both the Troop F Vice/Narcotics Unit and the Troop F Criminal Interdiction Unit will continue aggressive investigative efforts into the sale and distribution of narcotics within Clinton County. Any and all persons involved in the use and distribution of narcotics are forewarned that they will be identified, investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law! They are advised to either get legitimate means of employment or leave Clinton County.”
The police report came tonight after officers from the Vice and Narcotics Unit from Troop F Montoursville were pouring through Renovo and South Renovo this afternoon, going into residences and making arrests, part of their “Operation Reclaim Renovo” campaign.
Eisenhower called the borough “a cesspool for crack cocaine.” He attributed part of the problem to what he called a lack of law enforcement in the Renovo, the borough operating with one officer, surrounding municipalities without any police officers. Eisenhower said the recent police moves in Renovo were “due to the aggressive work of Renovo officer-in-charge Mike Jeffries.” He called Jeffries “the best thing to happen to this town.”
Eisenhower also made a pointed statement to drug users and distributors across the county: “We will continue to identify, investigate and have you prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Our advice to you: find legitimate employment or leave Clinton County.”
Asked earlier today the impact of the recent police emphasis on drug use in Renovo, Eisenhower said the goal is shut down the drug trafficking, at least for a short time.
