Four arrested during synthetic marijuana dragnet in Greencastle

Authorities conducted a dragnet into the distribution of synthetic marijuana in the Greencastle area Tuesday night and netted four arrests.

Franklin County District Attorney Matt Fogel issued a news release Wednesday afternoon announcing the sting in which Dyllan Wright of 230 Rowe Ave., Greencastle, was charged with delivery of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver. Wright was placed in the Franklin County Jail by the Franklin County Adult Probation Department for a probation violation.

Fogel said in the news release that Wright became the focus of a Franklin County Drug Task Force enforcement operation in the Borough of Greencastle at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, after receiving information several hours earlier from the Greencastle Police Department indicating that Wright “had been distributing large quantities of synthetic cannabinoids in the Greencastle area.”

According to the news release, task force investigators subsequently responded to the Greencastle area, located Wright and placed him under surveillance. During this surveillance, investigators allegedly observed Wright engage in multiple suspected drug transactions in the area of 57 Eastern Ave., Greencastle.

Authorities said that surveillance was then also placed on several of the suspected drug purchasers, who were subsequently stopped and searched by Greencastle Police officers. During the searches of these individuals, suspected synthetic marijuana and drug paraphernalia were recovered, the news release said. Following the discovery of the suspected synthetic marijuana on these individuals, drug task force officers then took Wright into custody. During his arrest, Wright was allegedly found to be in possession of 11 bags of various types of synthetic cannabinoids, which had an approximate street value of $330, as well as $1,555 in U.S. currency.

Following the arrest of Wright for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, officers then conducted a search of 57 Eastern Ave., Apartment C, which is a residence that had been previously associated with Wright during another, unrelated criminal investigation. During the search of this residence, investigators allegedly recovered an additional 78 bags of various types of synthetic cannabinoids, with an approximate street value of $2,340.

Arrested by Greencastle Police were Nicholas Shinn, 18, 204 S. Washington St., Greencastle, for possession of drug paraphernalia; Richard Lee Parker, 20, 161 E. Baltimore St., Greencastle, for possession of synthetic marijuana and drug paraphernalia; and a 17-year-old mall of Allison Street, Greencastle, for possession of synthetic marijuana and drug paraphernalia. The three were released from custody and will be charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and/or possession of a controlled substance via summons.

Agencies participating in this investigation included the Greencastle Borough Police Department, the Shippensburg Borough Police Department, the Chambersburg Borough Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Franklin County District Attorney's Office.

Anyone with information pertaining to suspected drug activity occurring in Franklin County can contact the Franklin County Drug Task Force at 1-800-344-3127. All information provided is kept confidential and callers may remain anonymous if they wish. Tips may also be submitted via email at tips@drugtaskforce.org