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A city man wanted by Altoona police on an outstanding felony warrant of drug delivery resulting in death is now behind bars.
Jameek Chamel Blocken, 41, was taken into custody Wednesday after police received a tip he was in the area. Blocken had been listed as one of the top five wanted suspects on the police department's Facebook page.
According to court documents, charges in the overdose death case stem from an incident on July 21, 2023, in which Altoona police and AMED were dispatched to a home on the 100 block of Ninth Street for a possible cardiac arrest.
There, AMED declared 39-year-old Samantha Preusser dead at the scene.
Police interviewed Preusser's husband, who said he was in the bedroom talking with her, but he was facing away from her. She was replying in short "mhms" and "ya's," and then stopped responding. He told police he turned, saw that she fell over and was unable to wake or move her.
He knew she was a longtime drug user, with her drug of choice being crack cocaine, court documents state.
The husband gave police consent to search and collect evidence, and police seized two phones, both belonging to the victim. In addition, officers found on the victim's dresser three tied off plastic corners containing brown powder,
10 used wax packets, two needles, one rubber container with a used cotton swab, three straws with residue and a piece of burnt tinfoil. On the dresser closest to the victim's body, police found a container with white clumpy powder, two glass smoking devices, a cut straw and a small plastic bag. On the floor by the victim's head, police found the top and bottom of two smaller bags, a glass smoking device and a used heroin packet.
Police also searched the area for security cameras and collected footage that showed the front of
the residence.
Using evidence found on Preusser's cellphone, police arrested Lindsey Jo Wood, 38, in October 2023. Wood is facing one felony charge each of drug delivery resulting in death, conspiracy possession with intent to deliver, possession with intent to deliver and criminal use of a communication facility as well as two misdemeanor charges. Her charges were waived to court on Nov. 1. She remains incarcerated in the Blair County Prison, unable to post $250,000 bail. Wood is set for a trial list review on June 6 and an omnibus pretrial motion hearing on June 21, according to online court documents.
During questioning by police, Wood described herself as the third person of the chain, noting she calls a friend who gets it from a friend. Wood showed officers conversations on her phone between herself and "Meisty," identified by police as Blocken. In the conversations, Wood makes arrangements to purchase a half ball of cocaine for the victim.
During the investigation, police noted that Blocken has an extensive criminal history with multiple possession with intent to deliver arrests. Blocken, court documents state, has been arrested for selling cocaine, heroin and weed in the past, and has been using the nickname "Meisty" for an extended period.
On Aug. 8, state police conducted a traffic stop on Blocken. During that investigation, it was determined he had about 150 grams of cocaine in the vehicle. He was released from the scene and has since hidden from police as a warrant was issued for his arrest, the report states.
On April 30, Altoona police received a citizen tip regarding Blocken's whereabouts, and on Wednesday, surveillance was conducted on a home on the 1400 block of 18th Avenue in the city. In the morning hours, APD officers observed a male individual matching Blocken's description exit a vehicle and enter the residence. Officers surrounded the residence and attempted contact. When Blocken exited the rear of the residence, officers emerged from the alley and attempted to take him into custody. However, Blocken retreated and fled on foot onto 18th Avenue as several APD officers gave chase.
After an officer missed Blocken with a Taser, he was tackled in the middle of 16th Street. A search incident to arrest yielded $963 in cash and ecstasy pills.
The APD Narcotics Unit applied for and was granted a search warrant for the residence Blocken was at on the 1400 block of 18th Avenue. The search warrant yielded $2,700 in cash, crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia, ecstasy, marijuana, packaging materials and scales.
He was arraigned Wednesday night before Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio on felony charges of drug delivery resulting in death, possession with intent to deliver, criminal use of a communication facility and misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and recklessly endangering another person. Bail in this case was set at $100,000.
Blocken was also arraigned on a DUI case dated April 1, 2023. Charges in that case include misdemeanor counts of DUI, DUI unsafe driving and summary traffic violations. Bail in that case was set at $10,000.
In a third case, Blocken was arraigned on misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana – small amount and possession of drug paraphernalia and a summary count of having an expired vehicle registration. Bail was set at $5,000 in this case.
Lastly, Blocken was arraigned on charges related to his arrest on Wednesday. Those charges include felony counts of evading arrest, escape and flight to avoid apprehension, along with misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief and resisting arrest. Bail in this case was set at $50,000.
Unable to post bail in any case, he was remanded to the Blair County Prison.
His preliminary hearings in the overdose death case and the escape case are set for May 15 before DeAntonio. In the DUI and drug possession cases, Blocken's preliminary hearings are set for May 21 before Magisterial District Judge Paula M. Aigner.