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By Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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KINGSTON – Undercover narcotic officers captured a Philadelphia man allegedly peddling heroin inside the jungle gym at a Hamilton Avenue playground.

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Police seized money and guns during a drug raid Friday in Kingston.

CLARK VAN ORDEN/THE TIMES LEADER

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It was one of many illegal drug sales in public places throughout Kingston since October, police said.

Five people were arrested by Kingston police and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force on Friday after a shipment of heroin was allegedly delivered from Philadelphia Thursday night.

Police Capt. John Jorda said the five suspected dealers were under surveillance for several months.

“They were selling right in our parks, they sold this dope in the jungle gym at the park,” Jorda said. “Not only in the park, but they were selling in school zones.”

The James S. Keiper Memorial Park on Hamilton Avenue is dedicated to former Kingston Police Chief James Keiper, who died on June 2, 2002.

Police said they seized approximately 400 heroin packets, crack, $2,200 cash, cell phones, a gas mask attached to a tube, two loaded handguns, a pellet gun, a scale and fabricated bottles and jars.

Jorda said a peanut butter jar, a water bottle, and a shaving cream can were fabricated to hide heroin.

Police searched a home on Third Avenue with a canine after the arrests.

As police were processing those arrested, the cell phones continuously rang by suspected heroin customers asking to speak with “Slim,” identified in arrest records as the street name for Mutatie Hakeem Johnson, 19, of Philadelphia.

Jorda identified Johnson as the man who allegedly sold heroin in the jungle gym.

Andre S. “Lil” Ransom, 21, of Third Avenue, Kingston, Krystin Lee Spudis, 28, of Vaughn Street, Luzerne, Tyshir “Dot” Morrison, 18, of Elm Avenue, Kingston and a 17-year old male juvenile, known as “Hot Rod,” were arrested along with Johnson.

They were charged with various counts of delivery of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, and were arraigned by District Judge Paul Roberts in Kingston. Ransome will be charged at a later date on firearm offenses, police said.

Police said Morrison was arrested at a home on Hill Street, Wilkes-Barre.

“This crew took over this side of the river, or so they thought,” an undercover narcotics officer said. “One of the defendants, we picked up three years ago in a drug sting.”

Ransome was arrested by Kingston police in September 2007 on numerous drug offenses. He was sentenced in June 2008 to time served in jail, according to court records.

Police allege in arrest records that Ransome sold heroin in parking lots of restaurants, pharmacies and at the Hamilton Avenue park in November and December.

During his arraignment, Ransome said he wanted to get the proceeding over with.

“I’m still young, I’ll be out in five years,” Ransome said. “I know what I was doing.”

Jorda said selling illegal drugs in school zones or playgrounds carries a mandatory prison sentence of two years, if convicted. Trafficking illegal drugs involving firearms carries a five year prison sentence, Jorda said.

Preliminary hearings are tentatively scheduled on Feb. 10.

Edward Lewis, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7196.