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A city man faces drug charges after police took him into custody on a sheriff's warrant and found money and drugs.
Gage Michael Barnhill, 24, was arraigned Monday before Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio on felony charges of dealing in unlawful proceeds and possession with intent to deliver along with misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Altoona police were working on a saturation detail about 9:52 p.m. July 17, 2021, when they went to a home on the 300 block of Maple Avenue after receiving a tip about drug activity.
Police found Barnhill sitting outside the residence and took him into custody on the warrant.
During a pat down, police found money in his pockets. A black package, consistent with medical marijuana, was found on the ground where he was sitting.
When Barnhill went to leave his belongings in the home, police saw him hand over large bundles of cash, telling police he got it from unemployment checks.
Police seized the black bag, which Barnhill said contained marijuana. Police said it was illegally packaged because there was no label on it.
When it was opened, police found two small plastic bags of white powder and notebook paper that appeared to be an owe sheet. When questioned about the drugs, Barnhill allegedly admitted they were fentanyl, the bag was his and the cash police saw was the result of selling heroin.
As he was being taken into custody, he told police he had methamphetamine and a packet of heroin in his left sock. Assisting officers also found numerous empty wax packets in his back pockets, police reported.
Police retrieved the cash, which totaled $1,270.
Another person in the home during the incident requested to leave, but in emptying his pockets, removed a clear plastic bag of fentanyl that Barnhill admitted to selling him before police arrived.
All drugs were sent to the state police lab for identification. Police said the items includes folded wax paper containing 0.12 grams of fentanyl and fluorofentanyl, two knotted plastic bags containing 1.04 grams of methamphetamine and from the bag found outside, a knotted plastic bag containing 0.74 grams of fentanyl and fluorofentanyl, wax paper, and 30 grams of fentanyl.
Unable to post $40,000 bail, Barnhill was remanded to Blair County Prison. He faces a preliminary hearing on April 12 before DeAntonio.