A Bainbridge Island man has been charged for allegedly selling heroin after Kitsap County detectives tracked him to the island from a Kingston home where his drug-dealing operation was based.

Joshua I. Rosenberg, 26, was charged in early November in a Kitsap County district court for the delivery of heroin. Rosenberg was detained by authorities earlier this summer after an undercover sting found he had been buying black tar heroin four to five times a week in Tacoma and bringing it up to Kingston to sell.

Officers from the West Sound Narcotics Enforcement Team with the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office tracked down Rosenberg on Bainbridge Island after surveilling him and setting up an undercover purchase in July 2012.

Police were aided by a “police operative” who had previously purchased black tar heroin from Rosenberg in the past and had known him as a dealer for several years.

The operative said that Rosenberg deals heroin by having his clients park at a Texaco gas station on Bond Road and Highway 104, then walk along a trail to nearby a park that is close to a home on Meadow Circle.

The buyers would wait at the park then go to the residence to pick up the drugs.

The operative recalled witnessing several people waiting in line at the park to buy heroin in the past. The informant also said that Rosenberg often hid heroin in the engine compartment under the hood of his truck.

On July 16, the informant told officers that Rosenberg was currently in possession of approximately 1 ounce of black tar heroin and that they could purchase an “8 ball,” or 3.5 grams, of heroin for $80 from Rosenberg.

Officers then spent the week surveilling the home on Meadow Circle and set up a sting.

Detectives gave the informant cash to purchase the heroin, and equipped the buyer with a covert surveillance camera to capture the transaction on video.

The operative then carried out the usual procedure of buying heroin from Rosenberg by going to the gas station on Bond Road.

Rosenberg changed his routine, however, and drove his truck, along with another person, to the gas station where the operative was waiting. Rosenberg sold the operative black tar heroin and drove away.

Detectives later obtained a search warrant for Rosenberg’s truck, but could not find him when they went to the Meadow Circle home on July 24.

Later that day, police found Rosenberg at a family member’s home on Bainbridge Island. As officers walked up to the home, Rosenberg spotted them and quickly ran to another part of the house.

His brother met officers at the front door, and then went to retrieve the suspected drug dealer.

Rosenberg allegedly told officers that he was addicted to heroin, was unemployed and was selling the drug to support his habit. He said he has been addicted to heroin and has sold it for about a year, operating from his girlfriend’s home on Meadow Circle.

Rosenberg admitted that when he saw officers walking up to the Bainbridge Island home, he “panicked” and ran to his bedroom, grabbed 3 grams of heroin and flushed it down a toilet.

Officers found a credit card in another person’s name in Rosenberg’s possession. Officers searched his truck and found a scale and a syringe loaded with black tar heroin.

They also discovered $205 in cash that Rosenberg said he earned by selling drugs.

After interviewing Rosenberg, detectives learned that he would travel to Tacoma up to five times a week to buy heroin, usually at around $350 per ounce. He would buy up to 2 ounces at a time.

After interviewing Rosenberg, detectives left him at the island residence and forwarded a report to prosecutors for charges.