County and city authorities converged on an alleged drug deal in a South Washington Avenue parking lot Wednesday afternoon after a detective learned of the meeting.
After a Lackawanna County detective received information that Keith Green, 35, of Scranton, would be meeting his heroin supplier in the parking lot of the South Side Shopping Center, a team of county and city authorities responded to establish surveillance on the deal, according to a criminal complaint.
The investigators saw Mr. Green get out of the passenger seat of a Chevrolet van and walk over to a white sedan driven by Dawud Ibn Umar Stevenson, 35, of Philadelphia.
County detectives and city police officers arrested both men at that point and allegedly found 50 packets of heroin, nine bags of crack, two cellphones and $224 on Mr. Green.
Detectives found $320 on Mr. Stevenson and a cellphone, authorities said.
Frank Turner, 29, of Scranton, the driver of the van Mr. Green had been in, was also arrested and found in possession of three bags of heroin, police said. He told investigators he drives Mr. Green to his customers in exchange for heroin.
Mr. Green was charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, among related charges, and sent to Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Mr. Stevenson was charged with two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver a controlled substance and was sent to the prison in lieu of $75,000 bail.
Mr. Turner was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled substance and was sent to the prison in lieu of $75,000 bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
Contact the writer: domalley@timesshamrock.com, @domalleyTT on Twitter