Tamaqua Police, Pennsylvania State Police and agents from the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force and Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine Holman's office fanned out this morning, determined to sweep more than two dozen suspected drug dealers off the streets.

As of press time, law enforcement officials had almost half their suspects in custody, preparing to be arraigned before District Judge Stephen Bayer.The first defendant to appear before the judge was Charles Erbe, 48, of 128 Greenwood St., Tamaqua.Holman was in the court to prosecute the cases and made it clear she would be asking the judge for percentage or straight bail for each defendant."These are serious charges," she told Judge Bayer. "The drugs they are selling on our streets are dangerous."Erbe was charged with three felony counts of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, delivery of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communications facility, as well as a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance. Bail was set at $25,000, percentage.Erbe asked the judge to reconsider, saying he had elderly parents to care for. The judge and district attorney both made it clear he was being "given a gift" with the percentage bail.The second suspect taken to court was Anthony Valentine, 22, of 311 Penn St., Tamaqua.He was charged with three felony counts of possession with intent to deliver marijuana, delivery of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communications facility, as well as a misdemeanor count of possession. His bail was set at $10,000 percentage.The bulk of the defendants are from Tamaqua, but Coaldale, Tuscarora, Mahanoy City and Minersville were also being "visited" by police this morning.Check

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