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Drug arrests announced after Monroe bar shooting

The Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department has announced several arrests in the shooting incident that occurred at a Monroe County bar earlier this week.

Among those arrested in connection with the shooting incident are Orville James, 33, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Steve Thompson, 31, of Jamaica, N.Y.; Trisha Samuels, 30, of Easton; Atwain Davender, 27, of Mt. Pocono; Andrea Connif, 30, of Mt. Pocono; and Taiquan Skinner, 31, of Brooklyn, N.Y.Charges in the incident include possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine, illegal prescription medications, marijuana, illegal firearm possession, fugitive from justice arrest.As a result of the shooting and ongoing narcotics investigations, which occurred at the Copa Bar in Mt. Pocono March 6, numerous search warrants have been executed and served over the past week in the area of the bar.As a result of a search warrant, Pocono officers seized a Nissan Maxima, quantities of crack cocaine, percocet, morphine, marijuana (drugs worth over $5,400 on the street, $1,247 in U.S. Currency), and paraphernalia indicative of drug trafficking.James and Thompson were arrested during this warrant, and each are charged with possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine, marijuana, percocet, and dolophone (a morphine derivative-all ungraded felonies), criminal conspiracy (ungraded felony), criminal use of a communication device (felony-3), possessing instruments of a crime, possession of controlled substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia.They were arraigned before District Judge Anthony Fluegel, of Tobyhanna, and committed to Monroe County Correctional Facility, Snydersville, in lieu of $75,000 bail each. Future hearings will be held at before Fluegel.As a result of the investigation officers seized quantities of prescription medication and paraphernalia indicative of drug trafficking. After an arrest warrant was issued on March 7, police arrested Samuels and charged her with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of controlled substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia.She was arraigned before District Thomas E Olsen, of Tannersville, and released from the county jail in lieu of an unsecured bail amount. However, she was then taken into custody by the Lehigh County Probation Department for a probation violation warrant. A future hearing will be held before Fluegel.Additionally, on March 7, as a result of a search warrant executed on a residence a few buildings up from the Copa Bar, officers seized a Chevrolet Impala, a .32 caliber revolver and ammunition, quantities of crack cocaine, percocet, and marijuana (worth $1,786), and paraphernalia indicative of drug trafficking.Pocono police arrested Davender, aka "Country", and his pregnant girlfriend, Conniff, during this warrant and each are charged with possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine, marijuana, percocet, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of a communications device, possessing instruments of a crime, possession of controlled substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia.Conniff was also charged as a person not to possess firearms, and that she was currently out on parole from Lackawanna County for drug dealing offenses.Conniff was arraigned before Olsen on her charges, and committed to county jail in lieu of $25,000 bail, however, Lackawanna County Probation Department placed a violation detainer on her as well.Davender was arraigned by Olsen on an existing warrant for drug deliveries and committed to county jail in lieu of $50,000 bail, and arraigned on the additional charges by Fluegel, and given additional bail of $75,000.On March 8, as a result of a search warrant executed at the Mount Pocono Motel, just up from the Copa Bar, officers seized a quantities of crack cocaine (worth $231), and paraphernalia indicative of drug trafficking.Pocono police arrested a male identified as Skinner.A wants and warrants check revealed that Skinner was wanted from Baltimore County, Md., since Oct. 25, 2006, for felony violations. The investigation revealed that he has been on the run for the past four years living in New York City, and that he was only in Monroe County at the Mount Pocono Motel for a short time, and that he was selling crack cocaine to survive.The investigation revealed that he met his crack cocaine supplier at the Copa Bar. He is charged as a fugitive from justice, and held on Maryland's warrant.He is also charged with possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine, criminal use of a communication device, possessing instruments of a crime, possession of controlled substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia.Bail is set at $75,000 for him and a future hearing will be held before Fluegel.