Man, woman facing drug charges after postal service intercepts package containing marijuana

A Port Matilda man and woman face drug and firearms charges after a package was reportedly intercepted by the U.S. Postal Service.

According to the criminal complaint filed by state police at Hollidaysburg, a trooper was contacted Monday by a U.S. postal inspector advising the interception of a “suspicious package” addressed to the 200 block of East Oak Street in Port Matilda. The inspector obtained a warrant to open the package and reportedly discovered about 8 pounds of marijuana.

The package was sealed and a controlled delivery was scheduled for the next day, police said. A check of the address reportedly revealed two possible occupants — Rakim E. Thomas, 24, and Destiny J. Hetrick, 25.

The package was delivered by the inspector Tuesday and was taken inside, police said. A warranted search of the residence was conducted afterward, and Thomas and Hetrick were taken into custody.

Thomas reported that the package was for someone else and didn’t know what was inside, police said. Hetrick allegedly claimed no knowledge of any drug activity inside the house. An authorized search of Hetrick’s phone, however, reportedly showed owe sheets for drug sales.

A search of the residence revealed the package containing the marijuana, police said, as well as several other large containers of marijuana and “numerous” vacuum-sealed bags similar to the ones in the package. Psychedelic mushrooms were also reportedly found, and drugs in the living room were allegedly within access to a child at the residence.

A sawed-off shotgun and other drug paraphernalia were also located in the residence, police said.

Both Thomas and Hetrick were arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Thomas Jordan, according to court documents. Both were charged with felony counts of possession with intent to deliver and endangering the welfare of a child, as well as misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. Thomas faces an additional felony charge of possession of a firearm.

Straight monetary bail was set for Thomas at $20,000, court documents said, and he was bonded out of the Centre County Correctional Facility on Wednesday. Hetrick received $10,000 unsecured bail.

Preliminary hearings for both are set for Jan. 31.

This story was originally published January 24, 2018 at 2:01 PM with the headline "Man, woman facing drug charges after postal service intercepts package containing marijuana."