Bethlehem police raid home for third time in eight months, two arrested after fentanyl found

Bethlehem police said they have arrested a man and woman after finding fentanyl inside a South Side home, the third time police have raided the home in the past eight months.

Christian Figueroa, 38, and Mariangly Gonzalez, 38, were charged with possession with intent to deliver fentanyl, possession of fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver fentanyl. Gonzalez was also charged with theft, and receiving stolen property.

Both were arraigned by District Judge Alan R. Mege and sent to Northampton County Prison.

Bethlehem police’s Emergency Response Team and Special Operations Unit served a search warrant at 6:03 a.m. Friday at a home in the 500 block of Hayes Street. Police said it was their third time at the home.

When police got to the house, Figueroa, who was shoeless, fled out a third-floor window, ran across at least four rooftops. Members of the emergency response team took him into custody, and he tried telling them that he was only on the roof to make repairs, police said.

Detectives found 160 packets containing fentanyl, and another larger bag containing more fentanyl next to where Figueroa had been on the roof, police said.

Police found more packets and prescription pills in Figueroa’s bedroom, police said.

While searching the home, detectives located a FedEx package and a cellphone that had been stolen from a nearby porch on Thursday. The stolen items were found in Gonzalez’s bedroom, which also contained packets used to package fentanyl, police said.

Police said this is the second time in a month and the third time in eight months that the home “was raided for trafficking in illegal drugs.” Police did not say if anyone was arrested in the past raids.

Bethlehem police ask anyone with information on drug activity or any other crime to contact their anonymous tip line at 610-691-6660 or the department’s non-emergency line at 610-865-7187.

mgamiz@mcall.com

Twitter @mannypantalones

610-820-6595