A Washington County man, who Burlington Police say was caught twice after open air drug counts in City Hall Park in August, is now facing federal drug charges.

Nathaniel Santiago, 40, of Barre City appeared briefly in federal court on Friday afternoon, but Federal Magistrate Kevin J. Doyle determined he was in no condition to proceed with a court hearing.

Doyle ordered the case continued until Monday to give Santiago a chance to go through withdrawal.

Santiago’s criminal history includes four prior felony convictions, including one for heroin sales and another for heroin trafficking, court records show. They also note he also has a misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested Santiago about 11:15 a.m. Friday near the Nest Apartments at 79 Pine Street in Burlington. He was brought to the federal courthouse on Elmwood Avenue, but was in no shape for his initial hearing at 3:45 p.m.

The ATF was working in conjunction with Burlington Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration throughout August to monitor the ongoing drug trafficking in the park, which is a few steps away from the Burlington Mayor’s Office and the Church Street Marketplace.

The public often has to step over or walk around all the people doing drugs or conducting transactions, or having reactions.

Surveillance units spotted a heavily tattooed shirtless man, later identified as Santiago, near the corner of Main and St. Paul Streets about 2 p.m. Aug. 6, ATF Special Agent Sam Brown said in a court affidavit.

Burlington Detective Lt. Michael Beliveau, in an unmarked police vehicle, said the group with Santiago was obscured by bushes and they were attempting to conceal themselves in order to hide their drug use from passers-by, Brown wrote. At least one person was a known drug user.

Santiago left the group and headed south on St. Paul Street while on his cellphone, Brown said. A black Kia Sportage with Maine registration plates picked up Santiago and began circling the block, police said.

Brown said based on his experience, training and conversations with other law enforcement officers this kind of travel is indicative of a drug transaction being made inside a vehicle.

Santiago got out of the car and rejoined his friends at City Hall Park with unknown things in his hand, Brown said. Another detective was able to see the items were clear plastic bag corners, known to package illegal drugs, Brown said.

Santiago was subsequently confronted and admitted he had “a little bit of crack” in his front pocket, Brown wrote.

A subsequent police search located two crack cocaine packages, a crack pipe and another bag that was suspected to contain heroin, but tested positive for fentanyl, he said.

During his police interview, Santiago admitted he “middled” deals to support his drug habit, Brown said. The agent said he knew that was street talk for selling drugs to lower-level users after obtaining illegal product from high-level dealers.

Santiago identified the driver of the Maine-registered Kia Sportage and also reported he had bought fentanyl from a woman earlier in the day at Burlington City Hall Park, Brown said.

The Kia Sportage driver was subsequently stopped by police, Brown wrote.

During surveillance about noon Aug. 26, officers spotted a black man wearing a black shirt with red decals sand blue jeans conduct multiple apparent hand-to-hand drug sales in and around Burlington City Hall Park, Brown said.

It turned out it was Santiago and he had moved through the park and sat on a wall near Main Street with two women, Brown wrote.

As police officers approached, one woman stuffed something in her pants, police said.

Santiago agreed to allow police to search him and his crossbody bag, Brow said. A detective recovered a crack pipe and some suspected fentanyl, he said.

Autumn Saglimbeni, 41, of Burlington also was arrested that day for possession of cocaine and ordered to appear in state court, police said. The second woman was found to only have a crack pipe, police said.