Philadelphia Man Busted During Alleged Drug Delivery In Delco: DA

PHILADLEPHIA – A Philadelphia man is behind bars after allegedly attempting to make a heroin sale in Delaware County Tuesday, June 26, according to Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun M. Copeland and Ridley Township Police.

Authorities arrested Montez K. Burke, 21, of Philadelphia, on June 27 and charged with felony possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance and related drug crimes, the DA's office said.

Burke's arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division (CID), the Delaware County Narcotics Task Force, Ridley Township Police Department and Glenolden Borough Police Department, the DA's office said.

At about 2:50 p.m. on June 26, CID detectives, officers from the Delaware County Narcotics Task Force and the Ridley Township and Glenolden Borough Police Departments were conducting a narcotics investigation in the area of South Avenue and MacDade Boulevard in the vicinity of the MacDade Mall in Ridley Township.

During the investigation, detectives learned that a male driving a dark blue Subaru Station Wagon was heading from Philadelphia to the MacDade Mall to delivering heroin, according to the DA's office.

An officer from the Glenolden Police Department saw the vehicle and stopped it in the MacDade Mall parking lot, the DA's office said.

Burke was then taken out of the vehicle and was found to be in possession of a large amount of cash, according to the DA's office.

Burke told police he was driving from Philadelphia to Claymont, Delaware, but had to get gas so he opted to make a detour to the gas station on MacDade Boulevard and South Avenue, the DA's office said.

A Ridley Township K-9 Police Unit arrived on scene and K-9 Hannes detected a controlled substance near the center console where police found 59 hidden bags of heroin with "MONTANA" stamped on them, according to the DA's office.

"Working together with our police departments, our Narcotics Task Force will continue to aggressively investigate and arrest drug dealers who are perpetuating the opioid epidemic that is killing our residents and tearing families apart here in Delaware County and across the country," Copeland said. "In the case of Montez Burke, due to the excellent investigative work of CID detectives, Ridley Township Police, Glenolden Borough Police, and our Delaware County Narcotics Task Force, law enforcement was able to stop a heroin dealer who was selling deadly drugs that can cause an instant overdose and even death."

Burke was remanded to the George W. Hill Correctional Facility after failing to post 10 percent of $1 million bail at his June 27 preliminary arraignment.

He is slated to appear for a preliminary hearing on July 12.

Image via Delaware County District Attorney's Office