U.D. cops seize cache of guns, drugs, cash in township raid

UPPER DARBY >> A man arrested in his Upper Darby apartment for assault and parole violations out of Philadelphia now faces almost 30 new charges for drug and weapons offenses.

Emanuel Lewis, 33, was arrested on a warrant by United States Marshal Services on Oct. 25 at his residence in the Bishop Hill Apartments on the

100 block of South Bishop Avenue. A search warrant served by the Upper Darby Police Department on the apartment uncovered a cache of guns, cash, drugs and money.

In total, the search yielded

$10,500 in cash, more than 1,000 bags filled with drugs and a slew of firearms, including a shotgun.

Lewis now faces 28 charges, including three felony counts of possession with intent to deliver, and corresponding felony conspiracy charges, plus three misdemeanor counts each of possession of a controlled substance, use/ possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of firearm prohibited, which all carry conspiracy charges as well. Lesser charges of receiving stolen property and possession of a small amount of marijuana were also filed.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Upper Darby Police Officer Kristine McAleer, the federal marshals placed Lewis under arrest at approximately 4:20 p.m. last Thursday and they “observed in plain view illegal narcotics, drug paraphernalia and U.S. currency throughout the apartment.”

Police secured the apartment until a warrant was executed at

9:15 that night and found all of the illegal contraband. The affidavit describes finding in the living room area three iPhones,

$2,424 in cash and a number of small brown cigars filled with green vegetation. The green matter later tested positive for marijuana. Another iPhone was found on the dining room floor.

In the kitchen, the freezer section of the refrigerator held more than 1,000 bags, “each containing a blue wax paper bag filled with an off-white powdery substance,” all of which were wrapped in white paper. New and unused blue wax paper bags were also found in the apartment bedroom.

Seven small, clear Ziploc type bags were also uncovered in the bedroom. Each was filled with a, “hard white substance,” and a small sandwich bag also containing that substance was discovered. A plastic container, a large glass jar and a Ziploc bag all found in or on a nightstand in the bedroom all contained marijuana.

All of the white substances found throughout the apartment tested positive for heroin or cocaine.

Further, a Glock 30 handgun, a Glock 19 handgun, and a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun were found in the bedroom with numerous magazines and ammunition found. The Glock 30 was reported stolen out of Philadelphia, according to the affidavit.

On top of a chest in the bedroom was $118 and inside a backpack located in the chest was $3,700 in cash.

A safe in the bedroom yielded a Beretta APX 9mm handgun with two loaded magazines, $4,200 in cash and a sandwich bag filled with a hard white substance. Numerous pills also were found in the bedroom.

Credit cards and other pieces of identification in the name of Khalil Oliver, an alias that was being used by Lewis, were located throughout the apartment.

Charges were officially filed against Lewis in the district court of Magisterial District Judge Walter Strohl on Oct. 30 as it took police a number of days to sort out his correct identification, according to Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood.

With the stash of drugs and ammunition found in the apartment, Chitwood said these “nasty guys” were “ready for war.”

“These guys were running a major operation,” he said. Further information about the extent of Lewis and Washington’s alleged drug activity was not available Thursday.

Chitwood said a number of people have gone back to the apartment since police raided it to try to get in and recover items that were in there. Apartment management has been notifying police of these incidents and have changed the locks on the door.

One such person who tried to gain access was Rashad Washington, 39, of the 5600 block of Whitby Avenue in Philadelphia, who was in the apartment at the time of Lewis’ arrest, and is alleged to have been living with him. The affidavit said Washington was identified and released from the scene at the time of arrest.

Washington, like Lewis, is a convicted felon and now faces the same 28 charges as Lewis.

Lewis is being held on a detainer as he navigates his legal case in Philadelphia for which he was arrested by the marshals. A warrant now as been issued for Washington’s arrest.