Traffic stop nets suspected drugs, arrest
State police say they seized more than 300 stamp bags of suspected heroin along with suspected crack cocaine and marijuana, nearly $1,000 in currency and other drug contraband following a traffic stop Thursday night in Butler Township.
Charles J. Perkins, 26, of Butler is facing felony and misdemeanor drug charges, and he remains behind bars on $150,000 bond.
According to police, Trooper Nicholas Dahlstrom was on patrol at about 11:45 p.m. when he spotted a car traveling north on South Duffy Road with a pair of faulty brake lights. He stopped the car.
Once at the vehicle, Dahlstrom smelled marijuana. Perkins identified himself to the trooper, police said, and turned over a small plastic bag with what appeared to be marijuana in it.
A search of the car turned up 313 glassine bags of suspected heroin and a plastic bag containing suspected crack, according to charging documents.
The search also yielded nine packets of suspected marijuana, police said, several smoking devices, a marijuana grinder and $965.
District Judge Bill O'Donnell on Friday arraigned Perkins on a charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, three counts of possession of a controlled substance and six counts of possession of paraphernalia.
He also was cited for driving with a suspended license and a rear lighting violation. His preliminary hearing is set Aug. 13. Online court records did not indicate if he has an attorney.
Perkins is already awaiting trial in Butler County court on felony drug charges stemming from a warrant search last year at a Center Township home where state police said they found 113 stamp bags of suspected heroin.
Police said they also seized a digital scale and suspected drug-packaging materials during the search Jan. 31, 2019.
Perkins was not at the house. Two others who were there were arrested. Both of those co-defendants have already pleaded guilty — one to felony possession and the other to misdemeanor possession — in their cases.
