ifredregill@altoonamirror.com
Altoona police filed drug charges Friday against a state parolee after law enforcement members discovered several illicit substances, including crack, in the parolee’s Altoona home, court documents stated.
In January, the Altoona Police Department worked with agents from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office to serve Mark L. Ivory, 45, with a Cambria County warrant for drug delivery charges, according to court documents.
While Ivory was not listed under Blair County supervision, an agent received information that Ivory was living in Altoona, police reported.
On Jan. 13, Altoona police accompanied Attorney General’s Office agents to Ivory’s address, and upon contacting Ivory, officers immediately detected the odor of burnt marijuana, a criminal complaint stated.
wfrank@altoonamirror.com
The coronavirus pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to law enforcement in 2020, Blair County District Attorney Pete Weeks told members of the Blair County Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Club on Thursday via Zoom.
“In 2020, we had more homicides here than in the previous 10 years. The number of fatal drug overdose deaths increased in 2020 as a result of the pandemic and the imposed lockdown by the governor,” Weeks said.
The influx of drugs has been a big part of the problem.
Weeks said the problem spiked after the end of mandatory sentencing in 2013.
“We have seen an influx of pure and cheap heroin and a dramatic increase in drug overdose deaths. In 2018, we saw a massive rise in methamphetamine that continues to plague our community,” Weeks said.
Blair DA: Teen planned robbery that led to killing | News, Sports, Jobs altoonamirror.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from altoonamirror.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Blair County D.A.
Blair County District Attorney Pete Weeks announced his intent to officially run for District Attorney Tuesday.
Retired longtime Blair County District Attorney, Rich Consiglio, formally endorsed Weeks, who had been acting as the DA since Consiglio’s retirement last year.
He was officially sworn in last April to fulfill the remainder of Consiglio’s term.
Weeks’ office is working on community outreach within area schools.
Once things get back to normal, he wants specialized prosecutors and “front line law enforcement” to go into area schools and speak to students about drug abuse, human trafficking, social media pitfalls and other emerging dangers that target children.
Blair County D.A.
Blair County District Attorney Pete Weeks announced his intent to officially run for District Attorney Tuesday.
Retired longtime Blair County District Attorney, Rich Consiglio, formally endorsed Weeks, who had been acting as the DA since Consiglio’s retirement last year.
He was officially sworn in last April to fulfill the remainder of Consiglio’s term.
Weeks’ office is working on community outreach within area schools.
Once things get back to normal, he wants specialized prosecutors and “front line law enforcement” to go into area schools and speak to students about drug abuse, human trafficking, social media pitfalls and other emerging dangers that target children.