Portadown cocaine dealer threw a bag of 'rocks' to a co-accused as they tried to evade PSNI in Lurgan, Craigavon court hears
A Co Armagh drug dealer has been given a suspended jail sentence for supplying the Class A drug cocaine.
Danielle Black, aged 34, from Queen St, Portadown, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Wednesday after her sentencing on two matters was deferred.
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She had previously pleaded guilty to supplying the Class A drug Cocaine on August 31, 2024. She also pleaded guilty to assaulting police and obstructing police on April 11, 2024.
On August 31, 2024 at around 6.45pm police were attending another call and spotted the defendant with two men beside the traffic lights at Tandragee Road, Lurgan.
"As police were turning left onto Russell Drive from Union Street, the defendant recognised the police vehicle and all three parties then started walking up the Tandragee Road acting erratically as if trying to evade police,” said a Prosecutor.
She added police spotted Black remove “something” from her purse on her shoulder and hand it to one of the men. The police circled back and approached the trio however one of the men “took off running” while the other male was “taken to the ground”.
“The bag that was located contained nine small deal-type bags which contained white rocks,” said the Prosecutor, adding one of the co-accused commented whilst under control on the ground “I don’t even know what she gave me there. She said, ‘take that and run’.”
The Prosecutor added the co-accused said of the bag that it “looks like it’s full of coke”. “I can’t believe she handed me that and said run. Is it rocks?” the co-accused is quoted as saying.
In the separate matter on April 9, 2024, police were made aware that another defendant had been recalled to prison. On April 11 police attended the address to carry out checks on this male.
"On attending the address a male and female were visible through the front door. When they saw police the male ran upstairs. Police entered and spoke to two females, one of whom was identified as the defendant,” said the Prosecutor, adding that Black claimed the male left the property through an upstairs bathroom window. However he was found by police in the roof space of the property.
"Whilst police were speaking with him in the upstairs hallway, Ms Black was located in the doorway of the bedroom where she pushed one of the officers forcefully in the back causing him to stumble forward,” said the Prosecutor.
Black’s barrister Mr Aaron Thompson said that one of his client’s problems, identified by Probation, is "who she associates with and she’s undoubtedly associated with people over the years using drugs committing offences”.
"On that occasion she is in a house with a man who is due to return himself to custody but hasn’t done so and is hiding in an attic. That probably speaks to the risk-promoting situations she’s historically put herself in,” he said, adding that Probation still feel “that’s a worry for them”.
Mr Thompson said: “She has had quite intensive work with Probation over several months.”
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said he was “very familiar” with Black. He said he would allow her work with Probation to continue. He sentenced her to a total of eight months in prison suspended for 18 months plus the £15 Offender Levy.