Student gets ARD, community service
A Slippery Rock University student, charged with assaulting a security officer as well as drug possession, was placed in the county Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program in Butler County Court on Wednesday.
Keynon W. Griffiths, 20, of Pittsburgh was placed in the program for 24 months by county Judge Timothy McCune, after being charged with several assault and drug possession counts in January and February.
He also was ordered to perform 50 hours of community service.
Griffiths' attorney, Myron Sainovich, told the court that his client was currently involved in the SRU alcohol and drug program, ahead of the disposition of the cases.
He was charged by Slippery Rock University police with two misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia after an incident on Jan. 24.
Police said Griffiths was caught illegally possessing prescription pills and suspected marijuana in his dorm room, after an investigation regarding the odor of marijuana coming from the room initially sent campus police there.
Griffiths admitted he had been smoking marijuana, according to court documents. Police said he also turned over a bottle containing 12 Adderall pills and one alprazolam pill. He acknowledged that he did not have prescriptions for either drug.
Additionally, documents said, he handed over another pill bottle containing marijuana. Other seized contraband included a marijuana pipe, marijuana grinder, digital scale and an empty container of marijuana wax.
He also was charged with felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor simple assault, resisting arrest, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, summary harassment, public drunkenness and underage drinking after an incident on Feb. 10.
Pennsylvania State Police said a pair of private security officers at the University Village at Slippery Rock apartment complex initially contacted Griffiths who they suspected was intoxicated, according to court documents.
While escorting him to the security office, police said he allegedly pulled out an object that one of the officers believed was a stun gun device, hit the officer with the object, which turned out to be a large vape pen, and unsuccessfully tried to grab one of the security officer's handguns, police said.
Once at the security building, state police said, the defendant struck the other security officer numerous times and broke a space heater.
He also damaged a wall in the scuffle.
Two troopers eventually had to take the suspect to the ground. Still, police said, he remained “defiant” even after being placed in the back seat of the patrol car.
Bail was set at $25,000 in that case, which was posted that day.
