PSP Bust Church Street Heroin Deal

LOCK HAVEN – State police traveling on Church St. in Lock Haven Tuesday afternoon saw what they suspected was a drug transaction; they investigated further and ended up arresting Marvin Jamar Griddle, 44, on charges of heroin delivery and related offenses.

Griddle was arrested in the bathroom of his apartment at 40 E. Church St., a location several doors down from Lock Haven’s City Hall and the site of rumored periodic drug purchase visits in recent years.

State trooper Tyson Havens filed a detailed report on the Tuesday arrest allegations:

“On 2/9/16 at approximately 1330 hours, Trooper Edward Dammer and I were traveling on East Church St. in the City of Lock Haven in a marked State Police vehicle, in full uniform. In the area of 40 East Church St. I observed a w/m, later identified as Jassen Bower (driver), and a large b/m, later identified as Marvin Griddle (front seat passenger) seated in a brown in color 2000 Chevy sedan, parked and running in front of the residence. Trp. Dammer and I circled around the block, suspecting that a drug transaction could be taking place. Approximately 30 seconds later, as we turned east onto East Church St. (one block west of 40 E. East Church St), I observed Bower depart in the vehicle.

“The b/m was no longer inside the vehicle and had disappeared. Bower traveled around behind 40 East Church St. and parked the vehicle. We parked several car lengths east of him and I approached on foot. Trooper Dammer remained inside the vehicle. Bower was observed to be under the influence of suspected heroin and further consented to a search of his vehicle. The search of his vehicle yielded the discovery of one blue glassine bag containing heroin, and a heroin kit containing numerous empty blue glassine bags, a needle, cotton, and a spoon. Bower was advised of his Miranda rights and gave a tape recorded confession. He advised that the b/m in his vehicle was Marvin Griddle. He further related that he had just purchased a bag of heroin from Griddle for $15. There was a cellular telephone in his vehicle’s front passenger seat. Bower further indicated that Griddle left the telephone in his vehicle when he got out, after seeing us drive past in the police car the first time. Bower advised that Griddle went inside 40 East Church St.

“I then approached the front door of 40 East Church St. and knocked on the door. The door was answered by Natasha Lynn Mills of the same address. Mills advised that she was the girlfriend of Griddle and related that Griddle was in the first floor bathroom that was approximately 15 feet away from me through the living room. At the same time, the bathroom door opened and Griddle looked out before quickly shutting the door and turning on the water. Believing that Griddle was destroying evidence, I entered the bathroom and observed six blue glassine bags in the toilet bowl. Griddle quickly flushed the toilet as I took custody of him.”

Griddle was later arraigned and committed to the Clinton County Correctional Facility.