Through the help of a confidential informant, Palmer Township police tracked down to a couple allegedly dealing heroin out of a Bethlehem home where two children were also living.
Alonso Sterling is in Northampton County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail. (Courtesy photo)
Alonso Sterling, 35, and Kasandra Rios, 37, both of the 1200 block of Livingston Street, were arraigned early Friday on charges of possession with intent to deliver heroin, endangering the welfare of children, criminal conspiracy and related offenses.
The charges stem from a Nov. 29 raid of their home. Palmer police conducted the raid with the assistance of Bethlehem police, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officials and other law enforcement agencies. It was not immediately clear why there was a delay between the raid and the filing of charges.
Palmer police say in court records that they first learned about Sterling and Rios through the confidential informant and arranged to have the informant buy heroin from the couple while under police surveillance in late November.
After the transaction, police got a warrant to search the Livingston Street home. They staked out the home on Nov. 29 and watched Sterling and Rios leave together in a Dodge sedan. They stopped the car, took the two into custody and then went into the home.
Court records say the search yielded the seizure of more than 50 packets, some of which contained suspected heroin. Cops also allegedly seized marijuana, a digital scale, drug packaging materials and other evidence.
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The two children found in the home were 3 and 14. They were turned over to their grandmother after the search.
Friday’s arraignments were before District Judge Daniel Corpora. He set bail at $100,000 straight for Sterling and $50,000 straight for Rios. Both were sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of bail.
Nick Falsone may be reached at nfalsone@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickfalsone. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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