From Mirror staff reports

A city man is behind bars after an alleged drug deal witnessed by an officer led to the search of the dealer’s home.

Barry James Criste II, 34, was arraigned Monday by Magisterial District Judge Matthew Dunio on single felony counts of criminal use of a communication facility and possession with intent to deliver, as well as single misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Unable to post $100,000 bail, he was remanded to the Blair County Prison.

An Altoona officer was performing surveillance along the 2600 block of West Chestnut Avenue on Sunday after the department received multiple complaints of narcotics dealing in the area. The officer saw Criste exit a residence and meet with a female, with whom he performed a drug deal. The female then left after getting into the passenger seat of a waiting vehicle, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

The officer followed the vehicle to Ninth Avenue, where he performed a traffic stop. When the officer spoke to the female, she said she was coming from a friend’s house on West Chestnut Avenue. The officer then told the female he saw her meet with a male, which she confirmed, and then agreed it was Criste, court documents state.

When asked if she met with Criste to buy drugs, the female allegedly said no. The officer told her he saw her exchange something with Criste and the female said she gave Criste money so he could get her dope. She admitted that Criste was going to Pittsburgh to replenish his drug supply later that night.

When officers deployed a K-9 officer on the vehicle, it alerted at the front driver’s side window. The female was then taken into custody and three wax packets of fentanyl/heroin were found on her person. She told officers the packets were what she actually bought from Criste, according to the affidavit.

Officers then responded to Criste’s residence and took him into custody. After obtaining a search warrant and sweeping the home, officers located three glass pipes, five empty wax packets, one digital scale, $140 in cash, one black phone and 19 alprazolam. Criste admitted to officers that he was an addict and sold his last remaining “bags” of dope to the female. He said he did this to support his habit, the report stated.

Criste is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing in front of Magisterial District Judge Benjamin F. Jones on Feb. 5.