Undercover probe leads to drug charges

November 06, 2005

After an undercover investigation into drug dealing, Hagerstown Police said on Saturday that they charged a man with drug possession and distribution.

Police said they focused on the 100 and 200 blocks of West Franklin Street, where business owners and residents have complained about drug activity and prostitution.

During the past year, the Hagerstown Police Street Crimes Unit has arrested more than 25 people on drug charges on those two blocks, police said in a news release.

On Saturday about 5:45 p.m., police had a confidential informant meet a male in the parking lot of Nadia's Convenience Store at 200 W. Franklin St.

The man directed the informant to another place, where he sold him $60 worth of crack cocaine, police said.

Police arrested the man, Anthony Lewis Petway, 39, who they said was living at the REACH homeless shelter at 140 W. Franklin St.

Petway was charged with distribution of crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

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