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SHERIFF'S DEPUTY AMONG THREE MEN CHARGED IN MARIJUANA SEIZURE IN YORK COUNTY

A sheriff's deputy is among three California men charged by police in York County in connection to 247 pounds of marijuana seized last week after a traffic stop in the Hanover area.

Christopher Heath, 37, of Bangor, had his badge and service weapon when he was arrested last Tuesday, along with Ryan Falsone, 27, of Oroville, and Tyler Long, 31, also of Bangor.  All three have been charged with delivery of marijuana, criminal conspiracy to deliver marijuana and possession with intent to deliver marijuana.

The three, who were arrested last Tuesday after a traffic stop, have all posted a respective $1 million bail.

"Suffice it to say it was not a routine traffic stop," said York County District Attorney Tom Kearney, speaking at a press conference in Penn Township, Hanover on Monday morning.

"We knew who we were going to stop and why," Kearney said.  He said police had been working on "intelligence received."

Kearney, flanked by law enforcement agents from several agencies, said the arrest had been part of an ongoing coordinated effort by the York County Drug Task Force and surrounding police agencies.

The seized drug, laid out across four large tables, was seized in double wrapped packages and has a street retail value in excess of $2 million.

"This was very sophisticated operation that was ongoing," Kearney said.

The arrest was made in the early morning hours of Dec.  29 in the Hanover area with the assistance of West Manheim Township police.  The three men were in the car.  In addition to the drug, police seized $11,000 in cash, a gun, three duffle bags and a T-shirt emblazoned with "Triple Cross Pitbulls," which Kearney said has a connection to the drug operation.

The weapon - a Glock 40-caliber - is Heath's service weapon, Kearney said.  Kearney said police did not know ahead of time that Heath was a law enforcement agent.  He would not provide information as to what the men's intentions were or if any of it had been distributed, he said, adding that the information was part of the ongoing investigation.

The three men surrendered peacefully to police, Kearney said.  He said that while no federal charges have been charged yet, they will likely face several as the drug was transported across states lines.

Kearney praised the work of law enforcement agents from across several agencies, saying the men and women of these police and law enforcement agencies "risked their lives every day doing a very, very dangerous job."

Also present at the press conference were: Chief Deputy District Attorney David Sunday, Capt.  Adam Kosheba, Pennsylvania State Police, Chief Jim Laughlin, Penn Township Police Department, Chief Dan Stump, Springettsbury Township Police Department, Chief Chad Martin, Hanover Borough Police Department and Chief Tim Damon, York Area Regional Police Department.