Police: Carbondale woman found with drugs during eviction

CARBONDALE – A Carbondale woman was found with a safe containing meth as she was being evicted, police said.

Tracie Valentin, 50, is charged with possession with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the criminal complaint:

At about 11 a.m. on Nov. 8, Carbondale police officers were asked to assist the Pennsylvania State Constable's office with an eviction because of the number of people usually at the residence.

Police noted occupants of the North Main Street apartment were known for drug dealing and drug use.

When officers arrived, they spotted Valentin leaving the apartment with a black safe and a pill bottle in her pants, which appeared to contain plastic bags.

When approached by police, Valentin said the safe belonged to her sister.

She then admitted that it was her safe and that it contained methamphetamine, police said. She described the meth contained in the unit as a "ball," the street name for 3.5 grams of crystal meth.

Valentin agreed to open the safe for police officers, which contained 4.5 grams of crystal meth and empty bags used to package and sell narcotics. Valentin told police she sells meth in small bags, $20 at a time.

Police then searched Valentin's phone, which reflected numerous conversations during which she sold narcotics. It appeared she had sold a "ball" of meth the previous day, police said.

The pill bottle she had in her pocket contained 2.5 grams of crystal meth, 1.6 grams of cocaine and folded dollar bill with drug residue.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 21 before District Judge Joanne Corbett. Valentin remains at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail.