Suspected crack cocaine, heroin seized in traffic stop
A Detroit man remains behind bars on $250,000 bond stemming from a traffic stop last week in northern Butler County, where state police seized more than five-and-a-half ounces of suspected crack cocaine, authorities said.
Police said they also found the defendant, 40-year-old Reginald J. Mills Jr., with suspected heroin and cocaine, other drug contraband and hundreds of dollars.
Trooper Jason Frances was on patrol on Route 8 north of Harrisville around 10:15 a.m. Sept. 17, police said, when he spotted a car with a suspended registration. He stopped the car in the borough and identified the driver.
The trooper smelled marijuana coming from the car, according to charging documents, and he got the driver's consent to search the vehicle.
Mills, who was in the front passenger seat, took ownership of a back pack — and its contents — that police found behind his seat.
A search of the back pack, documents said, turned up three plastic baggies that contained a combined 159 grams of suspected crack, and a plastic bag with about 15 grams of suspected heroin.
Also in the back pack was a digital scale, suspected drug-packaging materials and an unspecified amount of bulk currency.
Police said Mills handed over to them a white powdery substance, believed to be cocaine and weighing about 29 grams, that was in his back pocket.
He also was found with two cell phones and $585 in his wallet, police said.
The defendant was arraigned on three felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and a felony count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.
Additionally, he is charged with three misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 30 at the office of District Judge Bill O'Donnell in Slippery Rock.
Mills' attorney, Gary Gerson of Pittsburgh, did not immediately return a telephone call Tuesday.
The investigation is continuing, police said, and no other charges were immediately filed.
