Report: Man arrested, hidden drugs found
A can of soda pop and a Pringles potato chip can apparently just didn’t feel right to a state police officer.
The cans were among the items found in an Allegheny County man’s car that was stopped last week in Butler for having illegally tinted windows, authorities said.
A further inspection of the can of Welch’s grape soda and the potato chip canister revealed that each was rigged with a hidden compartment. Inside the hiding places was more than 2 ounces of cocaine, according to court documents.
Police arrested Van Rico Sanders, 28, of Braddock, who it turned out was also a fugitive.
He is charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, a felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.
Additionally, he faces a misdemeanor charge of counterfeit simulation mark stamp for using the phony cans with the Pringles and Welch’s trademarks.
Sanders, a felon, is being held in the Butler County Prison on $75,000 bail. His preliminary hearing was to be held this afternoon.
Trooper Michael Miller was on duty Tuesday when he noticed a car with what appeared to be windows with a too-dark tint. Miller made his traffic stop at Main and Jefferson streets, documents said.
The trooper discovered Sanders was wanted on a bench warrant out of Allegheny County. The suspect was arrested and Miller searched the car.
A black bag on the back seat contained a digital scale as well as the fake cans. Police said the cans’ secret compartments contained a combined 68 grams, about 2.4 ounces, of cocaine.
