A spokesperson for District Attorney . 2023 Cox Media Group. He was found with the potent drug and arrested Tuesday night in the Giant Eagle parking lot in Ligonier, just a half hour after the store closed. Man charged with unlawful sexual contact with minor after Facebook photos, videos reported to police. Payne is in the Westmoreland County Prison on a $200,000 cash bond. A search of his house in Johnstown turned up another 110 grams of raw fentanyl. Contact Us. This significant arrest is critical to not only keeping our communities safe, but this makes a dent in the drug epidemic inflicting pain on so many families," Ziccarelli said in a statement. Authorities said . After police obtained a search warrant Thursday to search the suitcase, officers discovered inside three kilograms of cocaine and 300 bricks of heroin, or 15,000 stamp bags, reported Cpl. You have permission to edit this article. In 2012, he was sentenced to serve three to six years in prison on drug possession and delivery convictions. The amount of heroin and fentanyl coming into Westmoreland County and Latrobe will be dramatically reduced, as will the amount of senseless overdoses in our area, he said. Arrested were John R. Thompson Jr., 29, and Willie D. Franklin, both of Fredericksburg; Teddy C. Clinkscale, 20, Nakia C. Forsythe, 26, and Leon N. Hinton Sr., 71, all of Colonial Beach; Robert N. Bibbens, 27, and Phillip A. Fulcher Jr., 57, both of Hague; Troy L. Harris, 31, of Nomini Grove; Conway E. Payne Jr., 38, of Montross and Jerry T. Newman, 32, of Oak Grove. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Westmoreland Sheriff C.O. View All /CivicAlerts.aspx. NEW STANTON, Pa. (KDKA) -- A drug bust in New Stanton turned up more than $1 million worth of cocaine and heroin, according to police. I am a veteran reporter who has covered a number of different areas but my primary focus is police and courts coverage. A preliminary hearing in that case is scheduled June 21, according to court records. Westmoreland County Drug Treatment Court. When they knocked on her second-floor room and identified themselves, Wiskeman reported they heard a loud noise from inside like someone was pounding on the wall of an adjoining room.. TV Q&A: Is a Pittsburgher writing for CBSs East New York? A fourth person was arrested Wednesday in connection with a drug bust Friday in Ligonier Township. Cortez M. Haselrig, 25, who lives near Johnstown, is being held at Westmoreland County Prison on charges of drug possession, criminal use of a communication facility and resisting arrest. In addition to Westmoreland, the task force includes the Caroline and King George sheriffs offices, the Naval Investigative Service and Virginia State Police. "The amount of heroin and fentanyl coming into Westmoreland County and Latrobe will be dramatically reduced as will the amount of senseless overdoses in our area. This is one step farther to get our kids safe, and I am really glad they caught him, Donna Hudec said. NOW PLAYING ABOVE. Get out of our community, because we know who you are and were coming for you., 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved. Shop Our Favorite February Amazon Deals Before the Sales End, The 14 Best Mineral Sunscreens of 2023, According to Pros, 14 TikTok-Famous Cleaning Products That Actually Work, According to Our Experts, 14 Best Healthier Candy Alternatives of 2023, According to Taste Tests. We see overdose deaths, we see turf wars, home invasions, shootings, homicides and most disturbingly, we see the law-abiding citizens living in fear.. Police said. Payne is in the Westmoreland County Prison on a $200,000 cash bond. Haselrig is the son of former Steeler Carlton Haselrig, who was from Johnstown and played for the Steelers for four seasons in the 90s. Troopers said Christian also had multiple conflicting stories for his travel., Police said after the suitcase was loaded into the trunk, Sutton went back into the motel. . Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. You can contact Tony by email at tlarussa@triblive.com or via Twitter . First published on December 20, 2019 / 5:46 PM. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. The arrests came after Pennsylvanias Attorney Generals office, the Westmoreland County Drug Task Force and local police executed a warrant at a home on Fourth Avenue in Arnold. Harrison City District Judge Helen Kistler noted she would be held in jail because of the amount of contraband seized and a flight risk concern. When deputies knocked on the door, homeowner Christine Barron answered and said the wanted pair wasn't there. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved. The arrest is connected to a four-month drug trafficking investigation spanning the two counties, authorities said. 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. You can contact Renatta by email at rsignorini@triblive.com or via Twitter . Hours of Operation. The drug can be made illicitly in labs and is more lucrative for dealers because fentanyl is much more powerful than heroin and, as a result, less is needed. U.S. Attorney Scott Brady speaks at a press conference at the Zone 5 Pittsburgh Police station in Highland Park on Friday, Aug. 21, 2020. Balderson . He passed by and immediately turned into the the New Stanton Park and Ride lot and exited the vehicle, Wiskeman reported. August 22, 2022 / 4:56 PM / CBS Pittsburgh NEW STANTON, Pa. (KDKA) State police in Westmoreland County say tens of thousands of dollars worth of fentanyl is off the streets. The Pennsylvania Attorney General's office says 24 suspected drug dealers have been arrested and charged following a street-level sweep. Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli announced that during the Feb. 11 roundup of suspected drug dealers, police confiscated crack cocaine, illegal prescription narcotics, marijuana and guns. Last September, Gov. I thank the brave law enforcement officers who were on the front lines today, Ziccarelli said in a news release. That officer is doing okay; he had an injury to his hand. Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page. His bail was set at $500,000. Police said no one answered the door but agents were able to hear movement inside and eventually detained the two men. Pennsylvania State Police responded to the Hampton Inn in New Stanton Borough on January 29, 2023. A federal grand jury this week indicted more than two dozen people for their alleged roles in a fentanyl-trafficking ring that stretched into Westmoreland County. Fentanyl is an opioid deadlier than heroin and has been the top killer in fatal Westmoreland County drug overdoses since 2016, according to coroner statistics. Officials say the suspects are allegedly low- to mid-level drug dealers. Malique Black, 24, and Tresean Black, 22, both of Arnold, were arrested on Friday. State police Thursday seized an estimated $1 million worth of cocaine and heroin from an Allegheny County pair after a transaction that took place outside a New Stanton motel. Investigators arrested Cortez Haselrig, of Johnstown, Tuesday night. Investigators did not release the ages or addresses of the suspects taken into custody or the criminal charges that will be filed against them. John Isoldi and Trooper Joshua Wiskeman, members of Troop As Community Enforcement Team (TACET). Most of those indicted are allegedly to be part of a gang known as Shot Boyz. Department Directory. PITTSBURGH, PA - Twenty residents of the Western District of Pennsylvania have been charged by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh in four separate but related Indictments with violations of the federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. The May graduation was the 13th since the drug court program was launched in 2015. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Independent Contractor (Newspaper Carrier), Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Spotsylvania School Board member charged with forgery, Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office ends affiliation with TV show, Spotsylvania man convicted of felony in driveway shooting, Police cite medical emergency in Spotsylvania crash, State rail plan advancing; includes Fredericksburg-area improvements, Bond denied for mother accused of starving her infant to death in Spotsylvania, New commuter bus routes coming to Fredericksburg area, Spotsylvania schools' new chief of staff will be "legislative liaison" for school division. The two fugitives, wanted on drug-related charges, were arrested inside the home. June 18, 2015 / 7:08 PM / CBS Pittsburgh. During the 5 a.m. Thursday trash pull, Wigand disclosed that officers seized 169 used syringes, 140 empty stamp bags of heroin, two stamp bags containing suspected heroin, six "brick" wrappers. "He was lying with his hands above his head, and the firearm was under the pillow," Held said. Melvin Payne was taken into custody at the store in Belle Vernon. If youre a drug dealer, or youre a gang member, go back to Philadelphia. LIGONIER, Pa. A pretty substantial drug bust in Westmoreland County netted 160 grams of raw fentanyl and the arrest of a suspected dealer. The children are OK and staying with family. Make no mistake about it, drug trafficking is not non-violent, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said at a Friday press conference. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Directions to County Facilities. June 14, 2021 / 6:40 PM / CBS Pittsburgh. Officers executed search warrants on two homes and seized the. The dog gave investigators a positive signal for the presence of drugs, which triggered them to seek a search warrant. Information used from the bust in Greensburg led them to the Knights Inn in South Greensburg, where sheriff's deputies found more fugitives, three stolen firearms, and drugs, including 12 bricks of heroin. Haselrig is in the Westmoreland County Jail on $500,000 bail. Balderson said the 10 suspects were arrested without incident. He said additional arrests are pending. The Westmoreland County Drug Task Force made a major drug bust that resulted in two arrests in Lower Burrell on May 13. Police say the offenders are low-to-mid level dealers who were either bringing in or taking. Its all over, Hudec said. A series of events soon would reveal to police what was inside the suitcase: $1 million worth of cocaine and heroin. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. The mission of the Westmoreland County Drug Treatment Court is to rehabilitate individuals to become productive members of our community through a clean and sober lifestyle thereby enhancing public safety, decreasing substance abuse and reducing recidivism through a collaborative program of intensive judicial oversight, Court supervision and treatment. 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Christian was walking in the opposite direction from the Citizens Bank, Wiskeman noted in court documents. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Sutton, who allegedly placed the luggage in the trunk, is charged with 18 drug delivery and possession counts. A man is accused of selling drugs from a Cricket Wireless store in Westmoreland County. Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli announced that during the Feb. 11 roundup of suspected drug dealers, police confiscated crack cocaine, illegal prescription narcotics,. Photo credit: Rich Cholodofky, Tribune-Review. - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Denning. WESTMORELAND COUNTY (KDKA) -- The capture of two fugitives in Westmoreland County led to a drug bust that netted three other fugitives, three stolen firearms and 12 bricks of heroin in a hotel room with children inside. A spokesperson for District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said police seized 30 bricks of heroin, approximately 63.1 grams of cocaine, approximately 42.7 grams of crackcocaine, 2 pounds of marijuana, THC edibles, alprazolam tablets, ecstasy tablets and over $10,000 in cash. State police say a . Attorney General's agents coordinate with 18 police departments on operations to get drug dealers off the streets PITTSBURGH Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced criminal charges in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties against 33 people for dealing heroin and other drugs on the streets of southwest Pennsylvania communities. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Malique Black, 24, and Tresean Black, 22, both of Arnold, were arrested on Friday. In total, investigators said it has a street value of about $90,000.Folks we talked to said theyre surprised the arrest happened in Ligonier, but arent entirely surprised by what they found.(I)ts all over the place and Im glad they did catch somebody and with that amount, to help our society. The 17-page indictment unsealed Friday is the culmination of a five-month wiretap investigation that included law enforcement from Pittsburgh, Wilkinsburg, Latrobe, federal agents and more. Denning, 41, of Delmont also is charged with conspiring to distribute controlled drugs from about June 2021 through October 2022, according to the complaint that was unsealed on Tuesday. Keith Epps. Bavin is on state parole in a 2013 Allegheny County drug case, according to state prison and online court records. This is of paramount importance to my office and the safety and security of our communities, she said. Troopers had the property under routine surveillance as the car pulled away from the Fairfield Inn, and the woman headed back inside. A poster details the web of connections of those involved in an alleged fentanyl-trafficking ring that operated in the eastern parts of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County as well as Latrobe in Westmoreland County. It can be mixed with other drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, and some dealers are pressing fentanyl into pills designed to look like legitimate prescription medication. Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook PageStay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter, First published on June 18, 2015 / 7:08 PM. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. Law enforcement officials on Wednesday announced arrests in connection with a suspected heroin ring based in Westmoreland County. Arrest warrants also were obtained for Randy Cartwright of New Kensington and Kashawn Goldsmith of Natrona Heights, who remain at large, the DA said. Former NFL star Chad Johnson says he saved money by living inside Cincinnati Bengals stadium for 2 years, Man gets 10 years in child sex abuse case in Stafford, 55 library books have been challenged in Spotsylvania schools since last year, New biotech can 3D print living cells inside the human body, Ukraine will join NATO but in 'long- term', says NATO chief Stoltenberg, Finland begins building fence along Russia border. The charges include the distribution and possession of drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin and eutylone. The Westmoreland County Drug Task Force made a major drug bust that resulted in two arrests in Lower Burrell on May 13. NO ONE ANSWERED THE DOOR, BUT AGENTS WERE ABLE TO HEAR MOVEMENT INSIDE AND DETAINED THE TWO MEN. According to Westmoreland County's sheriff, the drug bust that netted several fugitives and stolen firearms started at a home in Greensburg on Willow Avenue. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved, Courtesy of Westmoreland Malique Black and Tresean Black were arrested last Friday. However, a deputy at the back door saw one of the fugitives running toward the back of the home. No charges had been filed in connection with those items as of Wednesday afternoon. Some associates also distributed the powerful opioid in Latrobe as well. A man is accused of selling drugs from a Cricket Wireless store in Westmoreland County.Melvin Payne was taken into custody at the store in Belle Vernon.A spokesperson for District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said police seized 30 bricks of heroin, approximately 63.1 grams of cocaine, approximately 42.7 grams of crackcocaine, 2 pounds of marijuana, THC edibles, alprazolam tablets, ecstasy tablets and over $10,000 in cash. According to online dockets, Suttons only other arrest in Pennsylvania occurred Nov. 4, when McKeesport police charged her with criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. Christian has a criminal record dating to 2008 in Allegheny County, according to court dockets. Troopers Anthony Arbaczewski, Zachary Del Sordo and Isoldi, all stationed in Greensburg, received the Governors Awards for Excellence during a virtual awards ceremony. TV Q&A: Is a Pittsburgher writing for CBSs East New York? LIGONIER, Pa. A pretty substantial drug bust in Westmoreland County netted 160 grams of raw fentanyl and the arrest of a suspected dealer. Officials found several alleged crack pipes, and Barron was charged with hindering apprehension and possession of drug paraphernalia. Officials say confidential informants and undercover agents successfully made several drug purchases from the suspects, which led to the arrests. The Westmoreland County District Attorney's Office . 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