Joshua A. Surrell is expected to face charges of possession of heroin.

Joshua A. Surrell, 24, of Montpelier is being held at the Northeast Regional Correctional Facility in St. Johnsbury pending his April 11 arraignment at Vermont District Court in Barre.Among the charges Surrell is expected to face include possession of heroin.Surrell's arrest Friday comes only five months after he was convicted on a charge of selling heroin last September.Police said Surrell was sentenced to serve up to five years based on that conviction and was participating in the state Department of Corrections conditional re-entry program.
According to police, members of the corrections departments field supervisory unit allegedly discovered "several individual bags of heroin" and $535 in cash during a routine residential check of Surrell's apartment late Friday afternoon.
FSU personnel contacted Montpelier police shortly before 5:30 p.m. and Sgt. Wayne Cochran applied for and eventually obtained a search warrant for the residence.
According to Cochran, the apartment was searched with the assistance of Vermont State Police Academy K-9 Trainer Robert Ryan and a drug-sniffing dog shortly after 9 p.m.Cochran said the search uncovered 145 bags of heroin, a small amount of cocaine and a scale.He estimated the street value of the heroin at approximately $6,000.
Although Cochran declined to discuss the case in detail at this time, he said the drugs were hidden in the residence and did not appear to be for personal use.
"It was packaged in a manner that would lead us to believe he was going to sell it," he said.In addition to the drug charge, Cochran said Surrell is facing a furlough violation.

Thomas W. Hurley

Thomas W. Hurley, 44, of Poultney, pleaded not guilty Monday in Vermont District Court in Rutland to a single misdemeanor charge of transporting marijuana into a detention center.
Corrections Commissioner Robert Hofmann said Hurley had been with the Department of Corrections for seven years.
Hurley was fired Dec. 22.
Court documents say police were contacted by jail officials in October after they suspected Hurley of smuggling marijuana.
Inmates and former inmates told police that Hurley regularly brought in contraband.
Hurley was paid $50 for each package, wrapped in electrical tape, that he brought in.
Hurley told police he thought he was smuggling tobacco.