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Suspected heroin, stolen firearm seized

BUTLER TWP — A felon is behind bars after state police seized 117 stamp bags of suspected heroin, a stolen handgun and other contraband following a traffic stop early Tuesday, authorities said.

Stanford A. Russell Jr., 28, of Pittsburgh is being held in lieu of $100,000 bond in the Butler County Prison. He is facing felony drug and firearms charges.

Russell's arrest came after police Cpl. Michael Schmidt spotted a car traveling south on Hansen Avenue without its headlights on around 2:20 a.m.

The officer turned around and began following the car.

The driver sped up and drove through Lyn-Mar Plaza, authorities said, in what was described as an attempt to elude police. The vehicle eventually stopped in a driveway, where a man, later identified as Russell, got out of the rear passenger door and ran off.

Butler Township police, however, nabbed him a short time later, while assisting state police.

Police said Russell gave officers a bogus name. He subsequently was searched, according to investigators, and officers found a pistol previously reported stolen, 117 glassine bags of suspected heroin, two oxycodone pills, a small amount of marijuana, a digital scale and three cellphones.

Schmidt noted in his affidavit that Russell is a felon, which means he is barred by state law from possessing any guns.

District Judge Bill O'Donnell arraigned Russell on felony charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, receiving stolen property, prohibited possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a carry license and flight to avoid apprehension.

Additionally, he was arraigned on misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, possession of a small amount of marijuana and false identification to law enforcement authorities.

His preliminary hearing was not immediately scheduled. Online court records did not list an attorney for him.

Stanford Russell Jr.

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