Neighbors’ repeated reports to police about drug-dealing in a Lancaster city neighborhood has removed a dealer from the streets – for at least 5 years.
Harold Dickson, 51, was recently jailed 5 to 11 years for selling heroin and marijuana in numerous transactions with undercover police officers.
Dickson has a long history of crime with court records that date back to the 1980s.
Lancaster city police eventually charged Dickson, of 500 block of Woodward Street, after neighbors repeatedly complained about drug-dealing activity on the block.
City police’s Selective Enforcement Unit set up drug buys, and filed charges based on those.
Lancaster County Judge Howard Knisely recently ordered the sentence on felony counts of drug-dealing. Dickson was convicted at a jury trial in September.
Assistant District Attorney Kevin McGarry, who prosecuted the case, told the judge Dickson’s actions caused quality of life issues for law-abiding citizens of the neighborhood.
Dickson’s prior convictions include drug-dealing offenses and burglary.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright