PORT ANGELES — A 40-year-old Port Angeles man has been charged with dealing heroin next to a school bus stop after the latest in a series of drug-related arrests by the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team.
Justin Smith was charged Monday with two counts of delivery of heroin, one count with the special allegation for being within 1,000 feet of a school bus stop.
In a press release, OPNET officials said Smith had been on their radar for more than a year, though the investigation began in earnest in July when detectives developed several informants who agreed to purchase heroin from Smith.
The first purchase of heroin, in the second week of July, involved an informant purchasing almost 7.8 grams of heroin, which had an estimated street value of $975, OPNET said.
Investigation
The second purchase happened in early August in Port Angeles, where another informant purchased 2.6 grams of heroin, valued at $325, OPNET said.
“OPNET and local law enforcement agencies had been looking for Smith for several weeks,” the statement said. “Detectives learned Smith became aware of these efforts and became elusive; rarely staying in one place for very long, always changing vehicles and/or getting rides from friends.”
He was arrested Wednesday when detectives found one of his known vehicles in the area of Mount Pleasant Road and Marsden Road, where he was arrested after a short foot pursuit, officers said.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsula dailynews.com.