Members of State Police and the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force performed a drug bust Thursday morning at an auto repair business.
According to a criminal complaint filed by State Police-Troop L Vice/Narcotics unit, a search warrant was executed at about 10:15 a.m. Thursday at Amos Auto Repair, 45 E. Bacon St. in Palo Alto, outside Pottsville.
The target of the investigation, according to police, was Dale Santos, 44, of Hamburg.
During the sweep of the business, police say Santos was detained and told police that he had narcotics inside his BMW 328 and in the garage. Police then searched the vehicle and garage and say they found the following:
- Cocaine
- Psilocybin mushrooms
- MDMA
- Marijuana
- $2,480 in cash
- Hydrocodone
Police say they also found drug paraphernalia, including a “loading spoon”, plastic baggies, and a digital scale.
During an interview, Santos reportedly told police that he sells cocaine and apparently provided pricing information for them.
Police say the amount of MDMA, cocaine, and hydrocodone that Santos had on him at the time of the sweep indicates that he was likely selling all those drugs.
Santos was arraigned before District Magistrate Dave Plachko Thursday afternoon and charged with three felony counts of possession with intent to deliver and five misdemeanor counts of drug possession, and a single misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Plachko remanded him to Schuylkill County Prison on $75,000 bail. Santos, according to court records, posted bond on Friday and was released. He has a preliminary hearing currently scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 17.
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