GREENSBURG, Pa. -- An upswing in crime in Indiana County prompted a state police roundup of dozens of so-called midlevel drug dealers.
Channel 4 Action News' Jennifer Miele reported that police said robberies in the county are up 100 percent.
Police said they've spent the last 18 months building cases against more than two dozen people.
One by one, suspects were arrested and brought to the state police barracks on Monday. Among those arrested were 23-year-old Matthew Reinbold of Indiana, charged with delivering cocaine, and 26-year-old Brandi Doland, charged with delivering marijuana. Warrants were issued for a total of 29 people.
State police continue to search for suspects such as Wendell Dixon of Pittsburgh, who investigators said is a known drug trafficker in Derry.
"I am happy to report, today, we took quite a dent out of these individuals who have active warrants issued for them," said Trooper John Matchik.
In 2008 drugs overdoses killed 30 people in Indiana County. There have been 19 deaths so far in 2009, on pace to be the worst in the county's 10-year history.
In Westmoreland County, 47 people died from drug overdoses in 2008. So far in 2009, 41 people have died, which means Westmoreland, too, will likely see more deaths than in past years.
Crime rates are also on the rise. Robberies in Westmoreland County are up 100 percent this quarter.
"We believe the increase is directly related to the individuals who are using the drugs, going out and committing crimes, such as theft or burglary, to obtain money for the drugs. So part of this effort is to take that type of dealer off the street," said Capt. George Kuzilla of the Pennsylvania State Police.
In Indiana County, burglaries have increased 18 percent from last year.
Also in Monday's warrant sweep, state police confiscated a quarter pound of marijuana with a street value of $1,000, drug paraphernalia and $93 in cash.
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