Lower Burrell detectives accuse man of selling cocaine during 2 undercover operations
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A Washington Township man was accused of being a cocaine dealer after an undercover investigation by Lower Burrell police.
Keith Brian Banichar, 32, of the 600 block of Edgewood Road was charged with four felony counts of possession of drugs with the intent to deliver and two counts of drug possession.
Banichar was being detained in the Westmoreland County jail in lieu of a cash bond set at 10% of $10,000, according to court records. A preliminary hearing is scheduled before District Judge Cheryl Peck Yakopec on Tuesday.
Banichar was charged in connection with two undercover purchases of cocaine from him in April, according to a criminal complaint.
On April 8, detectives organized an undercover operation and witnessed Banichar exchange a knotted plastic bag with white powder inside for cash while sitting in a Jeep, the complaint said.
On April 28, detectives made arrangements to buy cocaine from Banichar and met him at a predetermined location where he exchanged the drug for money, according to investigators.
The powder was analyzed by a state police crime lab and tested positive for cocaine, police said.
Police said Banichar sold 3.12 grams of cocaine on April 8 and 2.57 grams on April 28 during the controlled purchases, the complaint said.