Four people have been charged in connection with an alleged heroin dealing operation in which the drug was packaged in latex balloons.

The Metro Area Safe Trails Task Force investigated the case, Burleigh County Assistant State's Attorney Julie Lawyer said. Burleigh County Sheriff's Lt. Nick Sevart said sheriff's deputies assisted the task force in making a traffic stop in which the four arrests were made on Tuesday.

Deputies arrested Ted Pierce, Nathan Vanous, Kevin Tormey and Angela Burmhagen.

Pierce faces the bulk of the charges. He was charged Wednesday with five counts of Class Afelony delivery of heroin, one count of Class Afelony possession of heroin with intent to deliver, one count of Class Cfelony possession of hydromorphone and one count of Class Cfelony tampering with evidence.

Pierce did not appear in court on Wednesday as he has been hospitalized, Lawyer said. He is accused of delivering heroin on Sept. 26, Oct. 3, Oct. 23 and Tuesday, and of possessing heroin with intent to distribute it on Tuesday.

Pierce also is accused of swallowing heroin to conceal it from law enforcement on Tuesday, leading to the tampering with evidence charge, Lawyer said. She said his hospitalization is related to swallowing heroin.

Vanous was charged Wednesday with Class Afelony delivery of heroin and Class Cfelony delivery of drug paraphernalia. He is accused of delivering heroin on Sept. 23. It is alleged to be his second offense of delivery of a controlled substance, so the charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison. Vanous also is accused of possessing latex balloons for the packaging of heroin.

South Central District Judge Bruce Haskell set bond for Vanous at $20,000 cash at Lawyer's request.

Tormey was charged Wednesday with Class Cfelony possession of drug paraphernalia and Class Amisdemeanor ingesting a controlled substance. Tormey is accused of possessing latex balloons for the packaging of heroin and of swallowing heroin.

Haskell set bond for Tormey at $5,000 cash.

Blumhagen was charged Wednesday with possession of drug paraphernalia. She is accused of possessing latex balloons for the packaging of heroin.

Haskell set bond for Blumhagen at $1,500 cash.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)