2 Self-Storage Tenants Arrested for Drug Trafficking, Unit Break-Ins in Wilkes-Barre, PA

Two men who rented units at a U-Haul self-storage facility in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., have been arrested, one for trafficking drugs and the other for breaking into and stealing items from other units on the property. Moises Gonzalez, 39, was apprehended by police on Feb. 24, while Travese Deremer, 39, was arrested on March 14, according to the source.

Police were called to 3 Heinz Drive after syringes and other drug paraphernalia were found outside the unit rented by Gonzalez. When they arrived, Gonzalez had a gunshot wound in his hand. He claimed he’d been invited into a unit by Deremer, who had broken into the space, ostensibly to sell Deremer drugs. At some point during the exchange, Gonzalez reached into a bag to remove a handgun and it accidentally discharged, shooting him through the hand. It’s unclear why Gonzalez tried to grab the weapon or whether the gunshot was heard by witnesses.

After a bit of a standoff with police, Gonzalez surrendered and was taken into custody. He was carrying a bag containing fentanyl and heroin, a knife, and $604 in cash. Police also discovered a backpack in his vehicle containing a .45-caliber handgun, 37 rounds of .38 caliber bullets and more than 100 heroin packets, the source reported.

Gonzalez has been charged with illegal possession of a firearm, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He hasn’t been charged in connection with the unit break-in. He’s being held at Luzerne County Correctional Facility without bail.

It’s unclear where Deremer was when police nabbed Gonzalez or why he wasn’t arrested until several weeks later, but he has been charged with burglary, theft, criminal mischief and criminal conspiracy. Police believe he broke into at least two storage units at the U-Haul facility between Feb. 10 and March 14. He stole items valued at $7,900 from the unit where the shooting occurred and a motorcycle from the other storage space, police said. He’s being held at the same jail on a $35,000 bail.

Phoenix-based U-Haul International Inc. was established in 1945. It operates more than 68 million square feet of storage space in North America.

Source:
Times Leader, Man Suffers Gunshot Wound During Burglary of Storage Unit