Quran Overton

A Westmoreland County man charged with possession of controlled substances and trying to eat bags of heroin to conceal them during a traffic stop pleaded guilty in Butler County Court on Tuesday.

Quran A. Overton, 36, of New Kensington, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and tampering with evidence before county Judge William Shaffer.

The plea agreement has no agreed sentence. Overton is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 7.

The standard range for the charges is seven to 25 months in prison if run consecutively, with the maximum being five years in prison and $30,000 in fines, according to information delivered in court Tuesday.

Overton was initially charged with felony possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, tampering with evidence and summary improper sunscreening after a traffic stop in Buffalo Township by the Pennsylvania State Police on Feb. 10.

The vehicle was pulled over for the illegally tinted windows, and police said the odor of marijuana was smelled coming from the car.

When Overton was searched, police said the officer felt what he believed was “a brick of heroin,” — 50 small, glassine bags bundled together.

Overton, however, claimed that what the trooper was feeling were ecstasy pills. Overton was arrested and handcuffed, and placed in the back of the officer's patrol car.

Following a strip search, Overton removed the suspected heroin “and was attempting to eat it,” according to court documents.

Police snatched the heroin from Overton's hand and he then spit the bags out of his mouth, police said.

The search, in all, turned up at least 68 bags of heroin, eight ecstasy pills, a bag of suspected marijuana and three bags of suspected cocaine, police said.

Overton was arraigned and continues to be held in the Butler County Prison on $100,000 bail.