Tamaqua police bust 5 suspected dealers
John “Bumpy” Filer, 54, of Tamaqua, was arrested Monday and charged in connection with three separate sales of heroin to undercover officers.
Joseph Kuhla, 26, of Tamaqua, was arraigned on drug charges Monday afternoon after Tamaqua Police executed five warrants on suspected drug dealers.
People visiting a suspected drug house in Tamaqua on Monday morning were taken into custody and later released. They face possession of drug paraphernalia charges. KATHY KUNKEL/TIMES NEWS
Five people suspected of selling drugs in Tamaqua over the past several months were picked up Monday and arraigned before District Magisterial Judge Stephen Bayer.
They included a father-daughter duo who were already incarcerated in the Carbon County Correctional Facility on drug charges.
Troy Michael Fairchild, 45, and Carly Jo Fairchild, 24, both of Lehighton, were picked up at the Carbon County Correctional Facility by agents of the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office to answer to charges stemming from a May incident, where they sold methamphetamine to an undercover agent.
They were arraigned on charges of possession with intent to deliver, delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy and criminal use of a communications facility.
Bayer set bail at $10,000 straight cash for each of the Fairchilds. They were returned to the Carbon County Correctional Facility.
John “Bumpy” Filer, 54, of North Railroad Street, Tamaqua, was at his home with several friends when police arrived shortly before noon on Monday. Officers removed a total of seven people from the premises, as well as an undisclosed amount of drugs, cash and paraphernalia.
Filer was charged with three counts each of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communications facility. The charges stem from sales of heroin he made on Aug. 15, Aug. 23 and Sept. 10.
Bail for each set of charges was set at $50,000 straight cash. Unable to post the required $150,000 bond, he was taken to the Schuylkill County Prison in Pottsville.
Joseph Kuhla, 26, of Tamaqua, was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communications facility in connection with a sale of heroin in May.
Bail was set at $50,000 cash, which he was unable to post. He was taken to the Schuylkill County Prison.
A fifth person, Hayley Covine, 20, formerly of Tamaqua, agreed to turn herself in at Bayer’s office on Monday afternoon.
She was charged in connection with a sale of methamphetamine which occurred on May 24. The charges include possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communications facility.
The six people found in Filer’s home face charges related to possession of drug paraphernalia. Those charges haven’t been filed as of yet.
Schuylkill Township Police as well as agents from the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force and state attorney general’s office assisted with the arrests.
