Frankie Morrison

BUFFALO TWP — A Pittsburgh man remains behind bars on charges that he broke into a car at a housing development and stole a wallet.

However, Buffalo Township police believe the defendant, 52-year-old Frankie L. Morrison, might be responsible for other vehicle break-ins — possibly a dozen or more.

Authorities said when they caught Morrison red-handed ransacking a victim's car last week, they eventually found him with a number of other items — including two handguns — that did not belong to him.

And he admitted that he didn't know to whom the items belonged, according to investigators.

Morrison is currently charged with three misdemeanors — theft, receiving stolen property and loitering and prowling at night. He is in the Butler County Prison on $50,000 bail.

He is also being held on a detainer filed by federal parole authorities.

Buffalo Township Patrolman John Gillette was on duty around 3:15 a.m. April 8 when he noticed someone dressed in dark clothing in a car with the dome light on at the Pasture Crossing housing plan.

When the officer stopped to inspect, the unknown person took off, running through yards and between houses, police Chief Tim Derringer said Tuesday.

Five minutes later, while searching for the dark-attired individual, a black Chrysler sedan caught Gillette's eye at Reimer Road and Pasture Crossing. He activated his red and blue lights, a signal for the driver to stop.

The driver didn't pull over, Derringer said, at least not at first. Gillette noticed the car's driver side window was down and he yelled for the driver to stop.

Police said the driver, later identified as Morrison, eventually pulled over and got out of the car.

“He was sweating and had mud and dirt all over his shoes and clothing,” Derringer said of the defendant. It was the appearance, he added, that suggested Morrison could be the person seen a short time earlier running through yards.

Gillette looked in Morrison's car and noticed more possibly incriminating evidence — black gloves and a dark sweat shirt on the back seat that appeared wet and dirty.

On the passenger side of the car was a black backpack that was open. The officer peeked inside and noticed “a heavy amount of loose coins,” according to Gillette's affidavit.

A closer look allegedly revealed a loaded gun magazine, gift and gas cards and a wallet. The driver's license in the wallet allegedly belonged to a man who lived at Pasture Crossing. The owner, Derringer said, told police that he had left the wallet in his car at his home. He apparently did not know it was missing.

Morrison, when confronted by the officer, claimed he was a jitney driver who had just dropped off two young men in the neighborhood. But he didn't know where they lived.

The officer asked the defendant about the items in his car.

“Morrison said he did not know to whom any of the items belonged,” Gillette's affidavit said.

The suspect was arrested, arraigned and jailed. Police also obtained a search warrant for his car.

The search allegedly turned up two pistols, jewelry, money and other property that the defendant did not own.

Derringer said police are eyeing Morrison as a suspect in 12 or so recent vehicle break-ins at housing developments in the township. All of the vehicles were unlocked.

“Additional charges against him,” Derringer said, “are possible.”

Morrison's preliminary hearing on the current charges is scheduled Wednesday at the office of District Judge Sue Haggerty in Saxonburg.