Crime & Safety

8 People Charged in Easton Drug Raid

Police say raid focused on crack and heroin sales at Ferry Street property tied to July homicide.

Complaints from neighbors about drug sales led Easton police to raid a house on the 600 block of Ferry Street Wednesday night.

The building in question is 613 Ferry St., which is where the argument that led to the fatal stabbing of William Thompson began on July 3.

When that stabbing happened, the house was allegedly place where people came to buy drugs.

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And it was apparently still being used for that purpose up until Wednesday, police said, with residents allowing dealers to stay there in exchange for drugs. 

When the raid was over, eight people -- ranging in age from 22 to 73 --were arrested, two of them facing felony charges.

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They are:

  • Daren Philhower, 44, Bangor 
  • Benjamin Haris, 49, Easton 
  • Eugene Evans, 47, Easton 
  • Miguel Rodriguez Rodriguez, 37, Easton
  • Benjamin Peeples, 73, Easton
  • Lisa Griffin, 50, Easton 
  • Daniel Young, 33, Bethlehem Township
  • Eric Ellerbe, 22, Brooklyn

They were all charged with misdemeanor drug parapheranlia charges, and released, except for Young and Ellerbe.

They both face felony charges: possession of heroin and tampering with evidence for Young, and possession with the intent to deliver crack cocaine for Ellerbe.

Two of the people -- Peeples and Griffin -- were residents of the building, at 613 Ferry Street.

Police said drug dealers were using the property to sell their products without actually living there. 

 

"Numerous dealers were utilizing this property at different times throughout the day," Lt. Matthew Gerould wrote in a news release. "The renters were suspected of allowing dealers to sell at the property in exchange for narcotics."

Police recovered about $300 worth of crack from the building. The investigation is still underway.

In court last week, a witness testified he was at 613 Ferry St. on the morning of July 3 when Thompson came to the building, and got into a fight with one of the men inside, Lawrence Gaines.

Gaines is facing trial for Thompson's death, accused of stabbing him five times during a outside the house.


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