Police say gun, drugs seized after traffic stop
A loaded handgun with an altered serial number, a set of metal knuckles, bags of suspected marijuana, doses of suspected LSD and ecstasy pills were seized following a traffic stop last week in southern Butler County, authorities said.
Middlesex Township police arrested Zeke S. Grant, 21, of Cranberry Township, and Elisandra F. Smart, 19, of Pittsburgh, on felony drug and other charges stemming from the stop about 10:50 p.m. Thursday. Both are in the Butler County Prison,
Officer Mark Heider was on patrol at Route 8 when he reported seeing a Cadillac CTS, driven by Grant, traveling south at a “high rate of speed.” He eventually pulled over the car after it turned onto Doman Lane.
The officer said as he approached the car he noticed a “strong odor” of marijuana coming from it.
Smart, who was in the front passenger seat, according to charging documents, admitted she had marijuana in her backpack. Heider subsequently searched the backpack and allegedly found several plastic bags of suspected marijuana and THC wax.
Also in the pack, police said, were 24 “hits” of suspected LSD and 24 pills of suspected ecstasy, three boxes of marijuana vapes, suspected THC-infused candy, a marijuana grinder and pipe, a digital scale, $137, and a set of metal knuckles.
Police searched a second backpack that was next to Grant on top of the center console between the two front seats, documents said, and turned up a Ruger 9 mm pistol with a magazine loaded with nine rounds and one round in the chamber.
The handgun's serial numbers, police said, were scratched off.
The pack also allegedly contained drugs and other contraband including a plastic gallon container and a small jar both with suspected marijuana, drug-packaging materials, two electronic scales, $433 and handwritten sheets of paper indicative of suspected drug dealing.“Based on the handwritten information, the amount of marijuana, money, packaging material and scales,” according to Heider's affidavit, “it was determined that marijuana distribution was likely being conducted.”On Friday, District Judge Lewis Stoughton arraigned both defendants on felony charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.Additionally, Grant was arraigned on felony charges of persons not to possess firearms and possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, and a misdemeanor charge of possession of a firearm without a carry license.Smart also was arraigned on a misdemeanor charge of possession of a prohibited offensive weapon.Grant and Smart are in the county prison in lieu of $100,000 bond and $30,000 bond, respectively.
