Pair arrested after text plea
BUTLER TWP — The story sounded scary, and potentially life threatening.
A 31-year-old Butler County woman texted her mother reporting that she was being held captive for a drug debt and needed money fast.
The daughter pleaded with her mother to come up with and deliver the purported $180 ransom to the McDonald's restaurant at the Butler Commons shopping plaza in Butler Township.
The concerned mother wasted no time — she called police.
But only after troopers got to the designated drop point about 11 a.m. Wednesday, and found the supposed captive woman in her vehicle with a man, did they learn the whole story was a hoax.
Tashina C. Booher of Franklin Township admitted the apparent ploy to get money and identified the man in her company as a drug dealer, according to court documents.
Police arrested Booher and Charles A. Thomas, 27, of Pittsburgh. Both suspects are charged with felony and misdemeanor drug possession. Booher also is charged with making a false report.
The defendants are being held in the Butler County Prison on $50,000 bail each.
Police said Booher, after recanting her initial story, told investigators that she had met Thomas earlier in the week while looking to buy crack cocaine.
She said she bought two bags of crack from Thomas and for the next two days drove him around in her vehicle while he sold crack and heroin, according to court documents.Booher also claimed Thomas gave her 16 stamp bags of heroin to sell. Instead, she said she used 11 bags herself and kept the others in her purse.Police said that when they searched Booher's purse Wednesday they found 58 stamp bags of suspected heroin as well as hypodermic needles and other contraband.Thomas, who was found with $700 in currency Wednesday, was much less talkative than his alleged accomplice, police said.He told investigators that he met Booher just two days ago and that she provided him with transportation. He then quit talking, police said, and asked for an attorney.Preliminary hearings for Booher and Thomas are set for Thursday before District Judge Kevin O'Donnell.
