Prosecutor: Man Caught Selling Cocaine Near School

A Brahma Avenue resident was arrested on drug charges Wednesday after he allegedly sold cocaine to an undercover detective on three separate occasions, two of them within 1,000 feet of .

Ryan Szabelak, 30, was charged with three counts of distribution of cocaine, two counts of distribution of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, distribution of cocaine within 500 feet of a park, possession of marijuana and resisting arrest.

According to Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano, Szabelak met with an undercover detective with the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force on Brahma Avenue on Feb. 28.  Szabelak then sold the detective cocaine within 1,000 feet of Bradley Gardens Primary, Soriano said.

On March 15, the detective negotiated another sale, and Szabelak sold him cocaine again on Brahma Avenue near the school, Soriano said.

Soriano said a third sale was negotiated on March 28, near the intersection of Brahma Avenue and Old York Road, within 500 feet of . After selling the undercover detective the cocaine, Szabelak was put under arrest.

While being put under arrest, Soriano said Szabelak did not follow commands and resisted his arrest.

Soriano said a search warrant was obtained on Szabelak's home on Brahma Avenue, which resulted in the seizure of marijuana.

Szabelak was lodged in Somerset County Jail, and bail was set at $30,000 cash or bond.