MINERSVILLE - An early Thursday morning roundup by Minersville police resulted in five people being taken into custody as suspected drug dealers, including a mother and daughter.
An arrest warrant was issued for a sixth person on drug charges and two people were taken into custody for outstanding traffic violations.
Police said the arrests are the result of the department's ongoing investigations into the sale and use of illegal narcotics in the borough.
Cheryl Ann Borowski, 50, of 467 North St., Minersville, was charged on two separate complaints.
Patrolman Jeffrey Bowers charged her with one count each of felony delivery of a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance. The charges stem from an incident July 11 in the 300 block of Westwood Street, where Borowski sold four Suboxone films to an undercover officer for $80.
The second complaint charges Borowski with one felony count each of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance and delivery of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor offense of possession of a controlled substance stemming from an incident at her home Sunday.
In connection with the second incident, the woman's daughter, Amanda K. Borowski, 20, of 131 Pike St., Apt. 2, Port Carbon, was charged with one felony count each of delivery of a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance and a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance.
Bowers said arrangements were made to purchase $100 worth of cocaine from the women.
At the mother's home, Bowers said an undercover officer handed the money to Amanda Borowski, who said she and her mother would drive and get the cocaine.
When the two returned, Bowers said Cheryl Borowski handed the officer a baggie containing a white powder that later tested positive for cocaine.
Both women were arraigned by Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, who set bail at 10 percent of $75,000 for Cheryl Borowski and 10 percent of $25,000 for Amanda Borowski. Both women were committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post bail.
Also arrested were Luis M. Merced, 49, of 300 Lewis St., Apt. 708, Minersville, who was charged with two felony counts of delivery of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor offense of possession of a controlled substance.
Bowers said the charges against Merced stem from incidents July 25 at 467 North St., the home of Cheryl Borowski, and also in the 300 block of Westwood Street.
After learning Merced was offering cocaine for sale in $50 and $100 bags, Bowers said an undercover officer made arrangements to purchase two $50 bags of the drug and later met with the man inside Barowski's home, giving him $100.
Merced left the home and returned a short time later, delivering the drugs that later tested positive for cocaine.
Merced was also arraigned by Plachko and committed to prison unable to post 10 percent of $75,000 bail.
Stemming from incidents July 18 and 25, also in the 300 block of Westwood Street and at Cheryl Barowski's home, Bowers charged Robert P. Mehlman, 55, of 322 Laurel St., Minersville, with two counts each of felony delivery of a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.
Bowers said that on July 18, Mehlman sold six Suboxone films to an undercover officer for $80 during a transaction inside Barowski's home. Then on July 25, Mehlman sold five Suboxone films to an undercover officer for $80 after obtaining them from a home in the 300 block of Westwood Street.
Plachko arraigned Mehlman and committed him to prison after he was unable to post 10 percent of $25,000 bail.
A fifth person taken into custody, John F. Murphy, 47, of 131 South St., Minersville, was charged with one felony count of delivery of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance.
The charges stem from an incident at Murphy's home July 18, where Bowers said Murphy sold $100 worth of cocaine to an undercover officer.
Murphy was also jailed unable to post 10 percent of $50,000 bail set by Plachko.
Police obtained an arrest warrant for Robert F. Willie III, 24, of 1201 Walnut St., Ashland, charging him with one felony count of delivery of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor offense of possession of a controlled substance. Willie was unable to be located.
The charges against Willie stem from an incident July 17 when he allegedly sold marijuana to an undercover officer in an area adjacent to 155 Sunbury St.
Bowers said the officer met with Willie and handed the man $120 for a half-ounce of marijuana. The man said he had to travel to Ashland to get the drug, left and returned about 30 minutes later, turning over two baggies of green vegetable matter to the officer. The substance was later field-tested and gave a positive indication for marijuana.
In addition to the drug arrests, police apprehended John C. Halus, 22, of 432 Pine Hill St., Minersville, on three outstanding traffic violations and Brooke Evitts, 26, of 1042 Maple St., Pottsville, on two outstanding traffic warrants.
Police said Halus paid all his fines and was released while Evitts was committed to prison after she was unable to pay the fines.