Man deemed competent to stand trial
A man who has been incarcerated on drug charges for more than 17 months was deemed competent to stand trial in Butler County Court on Monday and will have a scheduled preliminary hearing this month.
Bryant C. Rose, 41, was initially deemed incompetent to stand trial by the court on several felony possession with intent charges, but following a competency review at Torrence State Hospital in April, that designation was overturned.
His attorney, public defender Joseph Smith, said no preliminary hearing had been scheduled in the case due to the competency issue. County Judge Timothy McCune scheduled the preliminary hearing before himself on either May 24 or 25, depending on when the prosecution has witnesses available.
Rose was arrested after an incident at a West Diamond Street apartment on Nov. 18, 2015.
Members of the county drug task force served a search warrant after a joint investigation by Butler police, the county district attorney's drug task force and agents of the state attorney general's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation.
Police said Rose allegedly had 796 stamp bags of heroin, with a street value of $7,960, about five grams of crack cocaine, several varieties of prescription drugs packaged for sale and more than $1,300 in cash.
A search of the apartment turned up scales and other drug paraphernalia, as well as six bags of marijuana in a backpack that police said allegedly belonged to Rose.
Rose attempted to run from police by diving out a second-story window and was subdued by a police dog. He was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital and later transferred to Allegheny General Hospital for injuries suffered in the attempted getaway.
He was charged with four counts of felony possession with intent to deliver, one count of criminal conspiracy, four misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of resisting arrest.
He is currently held on $100,000 cash bail in Butler County Prison.
Also arrested in the raid were Shawn L. Nelson, 39, and Jennifer A. Young, 34, both of 319 W. Diamond St., Apt. 3.
Police said it is believed the pair were allowing Rose to deal drugs out of the apartment. They both were charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver, criminal conspiracy, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Both previously pleaded guilty, Nelson to the paraphernalia charge and was sentenced to 12 months time served, and Young to an amended summary disorderly conduct charge.
