Western PA Council Candidate Arrested In Heroin Trafficking Bust

ALTOONA, PA — Braddock borough council candidate Raemon Prunty and another borough resident have been arrested by Altoona police after an investigation into large amounts of heroin arriving in the city from the Pittsburgh area.

Altoona Police last week raided a home and seized more than 3,700 packets of heroin and more than $8,000 in cash. According to police, a day later they arrested Prunty, 20, and Sir Jihad Naire Valcin, 18,while they allegedly were transporting another 5,000 packets of heroin

Officers seized a total of 8,700 packets of heroin with a street value of $174,000.

Allegheny County's unofficial list of municipal office candidates identifies Prunty as a Democratic candidate for the borough's second ward council seat, as does Prunty's personal Facebook page.

"I am running for Braddock’s 2nd Ward Council seat because I believe I can offer the young, fresh voice with unique and diverse ideas that our neighborhood as a whole can progress from," he stated in a Facebook post. "I will make it a responsibility to keep transparency and open dialogue with our residents. "

Prunty remains in the Blair County Prison with bail set at $250,000.

Police are searching for Rasul Abdullah Aquil of Wilkinsburg, who police have identified as the suspected source of the heroin.

WTAJ-TV reported that Prunty allegedly told police he was a "middle person" for money exchanges between the police informant and Aquil but said he had no knowledge of the heroin.