Coatesville barber arrested for allegedly selling heroin

Police have arrested a barber shop owner they say sold heroin and cocaine in between cutting men's hair at his Coatesville store.

Anthony Skelton, 50, of Caln Township, was arrested Tuesday during a traffic stop as he drove back to Coatesville from Philadelphia, police said. He was in possession of a large amount of heroin at the time, police said.

Police have charged Skelton with a total of 32 counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and other charges related to the manufacturing and selling of drugs.

Police said Skelton sold the illegal substances to dozens of people in Coatesville, Valley Township and Caln Township.

On multiple occasions, police said, they saw Skelton leave his barber shop on Strode Avenue in Coatesville, complete drug deals and go back to his shop to cut hair.

Upon searching Skelton's home, police found about $20,000, two loaded guns Skelton was not permitted to have, and fentanyl, a narcotic added to heroin that increases both the potency of the drug and the possibility of overdose.

Cancer patients use fentanyl to treat severe pain.

Police started their investigation into Skelton in November after receiving several complaints about Skelton's illegal transactions.

The Coatesville department worked with the Chester County District Attorney's Office, the Caln Township Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and members of the Chester County Drug Task Force.

Skelton was arraigned Wednesday and taken to Chester County Prison after failing to post $100,000 cash bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday.

- Michaelle Bond