2 Braddock men nabbed in drug raid
Two Braddock men were arrested Friday in a raid in Braddock where police seized 1,650 stamp bags of heroin and fentanyl worth $9,900 on the streets, a stolen gun plus $3,175 in cash, Allegheny County Police said.
The county narcotics detectives arrested James Wise, 28, and Brandon Balthrop, 31, and seized the heroin and a small amount of marijuana, a stolen Taurus .380-caliber gun and cash when detectives searched a residence at 613 Corey Ave. in Braddock.
Detectives obtained a search warrant as the result of a narcotics investigation targeting heroin trafficking in the Braddock area.
Wise was out of jail on bond from a Dec. 19, 2019, arrest at the same residence when police seized heroin/fentanyl, a stolen 9mm handgun, and $2,700.
Both Balthrop and Wise were charged with felony possession with intent to deliver heroin/fentanyl, receiving stolen property, and endangering the welfare of children. Wise also was charged with illegal possession of a gun.
Two children, ages 7 and 4, were found in the residence when the warrant was served.
Wise was placed in the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh in lieu of $10,000 bond, but Balthrop was released on his own recognizance.
They face preliminary hearings on March 24.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.
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