Cops seize 'Adidas' heroin in 2 Del. drug busts

Delaware State Police on Thursday seized nearly 620 bags of heroin stamped with the brand name "Adidas" during two separate drug busts in Dover.

The first incident happened around 1:30 p.m., when a trooper pulled over a 2006 Buick Lacrosse for a traffic violation on East Lebanon Road east of South State Street.

Police said as the driver, 30-year-old Edward Hale, pulled over, he was seen leaning across the passenger's side of the car and throwing something out of the window. Hale was ordered to exit the vehicle and was taken into custody. A search of the area allegedly turned up eight small rubber-banded bags of heroin branded "Adidas."

Hale, of Camden-Wyoming, was taken to Troop 3 and charged with possession with the intent to deliver heroin, tampering with physical evidence and possessing drug paraphernalia. He was arraigned and jailed at the Sussex Correctional Institution in lieu of $8,000 cash bond.

The second incident happened a little over three hours later and less than two miles away, at the Best Western on the 1700 block of East Lebanon Road.

Investigators with the Delaware State Police Kent County Drug and Governor's Task Force executed a search warrant on a hotel room. There, they arrested Justin Bodman, 25, of Henderson, Md., and Crystle Kotenko, 23, of Harrington.

Police said they recovered from the room 611 bags totaling 12.22 grams of heroin, each stamped with the brand name "Adidas." Investigators also allegedly found two doses of Suboxone, paraphernalia and more than $1,200 in suspected drug proceeds.

Both Bodman and Kotenko were taken back to Troop 3 and charged with possessing heroin, possession with the intent to deliver, second-degree conspiracy, possessing a controlled substance without a prescription and possessing drug paraphernalia. The suspects were each jailed on $54,000 secured bond.