Crime & Safety

Alleged Heroin Dealer Has Court Hearing Postponed

Terrance Malik Anderson is facing charges for allegedly attempting to sell heroin during a foiled drug deal in Hatboro.

An alleged Philadelphia heroin dealer whose criminal rap sheet dates back to 1999 had his day in Hatboro District Court postponed.

After sheriff's officers transported Terrance Malik Anderson, 29, formerly of the 2700 block of W. Master Street in Philadelphia, from the Montgomery County Correctional Facility more than an hour after his scheduled preliminary hearing on Thursday, Hatboro District Judge Paul Leo agreed to Hatboro Police's request for a continuance. 

Authorities allege that in the Aaron's parking lot at South York Road and Lehman Avenue in Hatboro last month. 

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According to court documents, a confidential informant told Hatboro Police on April 24 that Anderson, also known as "Smooth," was involved in drug distribution, specifically heroin and crack cocaine, in the Hatboro area. The informant, according to documents, had made "approximately 12 purchases of heroin from Smooth over the past six to seven months.”

The informant also told police that Anderson was expected to take the SEPTA Route 22 bus from Philadelphia the following day for an alleged drug deal. Hatboro and Upper Moreland police used surveillance to watch a woman sitting for "an extended period of time" on a bench near the Aaron's store, according to court documents. 

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Some time later, Anderson and another man were alleged to have exited a SEPTA bus, approach the woman and carry out a "hand to hand drug transaction," according to the arrest affidavit. 

Hatboro Police Chief James Gardner witnessed the alleged drug deal, according to documents. Gardner had given a “predetermined signal” and surveillance officers surrounded the three individuals and they were apprehended, according to documents.

Gardner, who was expected to testify at Anderson's preliminary hearing, was unable to stay until Anderson's arrival in court, which is why Hatboro Police Detective/Sgt. Cameron Goold requested a continuance on Thursday. 

Leo did not schedule a new date, but said, "we'll get this as soon as we can."

When asked if the woman who allegedly purchased 14 bags of heroin from Anderson had been charged, Goold told Patch that the alleged drug deal remained an "ongoing investigation."

Anderson, according to court documents, has had six drug-related convictions since 2001, as well as a simple assault and indecent assault charge in 1999. 

He remains in the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in lieu of $250,000 cash bail. 


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