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WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Township police arrested a man from New York City on charges he intimidated a witness at his preliminary hearing on drug trafficking offenses.
Thomas Abreu Jr., 34, who was residing on Scott Street, Wilkes-Barre, appeared before District Judge Michael Dotzel in Wilkes-Barre Township for his preliminary hearing Tuesday on charges he was peddling heroin from a motel room on Schecter Drive in July.
Three handguns were allegedly found in a backpack Abreu attempted to hide in the motel when police were searching for him.
Police allege Abreu at Tuesday’s court proceeding said to a witness, “I see you with your peoples, you snitch.”
The witness further told police Abreu, while free on $100,000 bail on the drug offenses, entered his residence and threatened him saying, “If you go to court people disappear all the time. I don’t care about your life, I’m gonna do twenty years,” police said.
Police arrested Abreu at his preliminary hearing charging him with intimidation of a witness. He was arraigned by District Judge Donald Whittaker in Nanticoke and jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility without bail.
Police said the district attorney’s office is expected to file a petition in county court to revoke Abreu’s bail on the drug and firearm case.
Abreu was initially arrested July 26 when police investigated a report he allegedly threatened an ex-girlfriend with a handgun in the area of Mundy and Kidder streets.
Police spotted Abreu standing next to his vehicle outside Motel 6.
Abreu ran into the motel when he seen a police cruiser.
Police allege Abreu carrying a backpack entered an adjacent motel room occupied by two people. The occupants told police Abreu stashed sandwich bags full of “stuff” (suspected heroin) under a mattress, about $1,000 in a dresser drawer and hid a red bag filled with unpackaged heroin in a trash can in the bathroom, according to the criminal complaint.
Police searched Abreu’s room he rented and allegedly found 51 heroin packets, packaging materials, a grinder and nearly $7,250 found in a sock, the complaint says.
Police believed Abreu frequently traveled between New York and Pennsylvania.
Court records in New York indicate Abreu was recently paroled on a drug conviction.