A St. Lawrence man was arrested on drug-trafficking charges during a predawn raid of his residence Wednesday.
Investigators with Reading police and Central Berks Regional police, operating under the auspices of the Berks County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force, seized 165 grams of crack cocaine and 50 OxyContin pills from the residence of Antone Beam, 28, in the 200 block of Poplar Drive.
Beam was committed to Berks County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail following arraignment Wednesday afternoon before District Judge Sandra L. Fegley
Beam faces two counts of possessing and intending to deliver a controlled substance and possessing a firearm while prohibited.
Authorities said an investigation into illegal drug sales in the 800 block of Penn Street in Reading led them to Beam as a suspect.
They obtained a search warrant this week for his home.
According to investigators:
During the search, investigators seized about 175 grams (6.17 ounces) of crack cocaine, 50 OxyContin pills and a .22 caliber pistol, along with miscellaneous packaging and processing materials related to the sale of crack cocaine.
The approximate street value of the illicit drugs was $18,000.
This is an ongoing investigation, and anyone with information is asked to contact Reading police at 610-655-6116 or Berks County detectives at 610-478-7171.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Alert Berks County by calling 877-373-9913, downloading the ALERTBERKS app on their mobile device, or via text message by typing ALERTBERKS along with their tip to 847411.