2 Braddock men nabbed in drug raid



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Two Braddock men were arrested Friday in a raid in Braddock where police seized 1,650 stamp bags of heroin and fentanyl worth $9,900 on the streets, a stolen gun plus $3,175 in cash, Allegheny County Police said.
The county narcotics detectives arrested James Wise, 28, and Brandon Balthrop, 31, and seized the heroin and a small amount of marijuana, a stolen Taurus .380-caliber gun and cash when detectives searched a residence at 613 Corey Ave. in Braddock.
Detectives obtained a search warrant as the result of a narcotics investigation targeting heroin trafficking in the Braddock area.
Wise was out of jail on bond from a Dec. 19, 2019, arrest at the same residence when police seized heroin/fentanyl, a stolen 9mm handgun, and $2,700.
Both Balthrop and Wise were charged with felony possession with intent to deliver heroin/fentanyl, receiving stolen property, and endangering the welfare of children. Wise also was charged with illegal possession of a gun.
Two children, ages 7 and 4, were found in the residence when the warrant was served.
Wise was placed in the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh in lieu of $10,000 bond, but Balthrop was released on his own recognizance.
They face preliminary hearings on March 24.