Altoona police arrested a man in connection with the theft of numerous firearms from a residence where he resided in October, a commonwealth criminal complaint stated.

Cameron M. Mease, 31, formerly of Altoona, was arraigned Saturday by Magisterial District Judge Ben Jones on more than 90 felony counts of theft- and firearms-related crimes, court documents stated.

The victim first reported two missing handguns in early October when Mease lived at the victim’s residence. By the end of October, the victim reported another 16 firearms missing, police reported.

At least 16 of the firearms were in a safe, according to a criminal complaint.

When the victim questioned Mease about the missing property, Mease allegedly avoided the questions, packed his things and said he was checking himself into a drug rehabilitation program, court documents stated.

On Friday, police responded to a call regarding a possible drug overdose, and found mail addressed to Mease as well as a syringe, court documents stated.

Mease was detained at the scene after posing as an interested bystander, then admitting the syringe was his when police confronted him with mail addressed to him at the scene, police reported.

Once in custody, police discovered suspected heroin on Mease, who allegedly told police it was “cut dope,” court documents stated.

After signing a waiver of rights form, Mease agreed to talk about the missing firearms and told police he stole the weapons after finding keys to the safe in the residence, police reported.

Mease sold the firearms for “drugs and money” to several drug contacts throughout the area surrounding Altoona, police reported.

In one instance, Mease reportedly exchanged a Smith & Wesson MP-15 rifle with a contact in Tyrone for $700 and four bricks of heroin, a criminal complaint stated.

The two firearms initially reported as missing were sold to a Mount Union man, known only as “Luck,” for about $600, Mease reportedly told police.

Unable to post his $100,000 cash bail, Mease is jailed at the Blair County Prison, court documents stated.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Mease on Dec. 16 with Jones.

Mirror Staff Writer Ike Fredregill is at 814-946-7458.