Lansdale Police busted an alleged cocaine dealer on June 8, who allegedly operated out of his apartment located next to The Main Freeze ice cream shop on the 800 block of West Main Street.

Lansdale Police Chief Robert McDyre made the bust a top priority, due to the close proximity of children and families patronizing the legitimate ice cream shop, police said.

Luis Soto, 43, was arrested on location in his second floor apartment, police said.

Seized from his apartment by police were $700 in cash, several bags of cocaine and drug paraphernalia, police said.

Undercover police officers arranged buys on several different dates in late May and early June 2012, police said. The buys resulted in a search warrant being issued on Soto's apartment, police said.

Montgomery Township Police assisted Lansdale Police in their investigation into the alleged drug dealer. Officers from both departments served the warrant on June 8.

Soto has been charged with felony manufacture, delivery or possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture or deliver; misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance by an unregistered person and misdemeanor use or possession of drug paraphernalia, according to court records.

A preliminary hearing is set for June 27 at 2:45 p.m. before District Judge Harold Borek.

Soto was arraigned before District Judge Francis Lawrence, who set bail at $5,000 cash.  A probation detainer was also lodged against Soto. 

Soto was taken to Montgomery County Correctional Facility in lieu of bail.

Soto was last busted on misdemeanor drug charges on March 17, 2011, according to court records.

According to court records, Soto pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance by an unregistered person. He was put on one year probation on June 21, 2011.