The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA

Local News

January 25, 2013

Two face drug charges after traffic stop in city

JOHNSTOWN — Johnstown police arrested two suspected drug dealers and seized marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a handgun during a traffic stop.

Police on Thursday charged Stephen M. Huff, 23, of the 700 block of McMillen Street, and Adam Scott McAfee, 27, of the 700 block of Von Lunen Road, with drug-related offenses.

In a criminal complaint, police said they stopped a 1992 Ford Ranger on Oak Street on Tuesday after the driver ran a stop sign.

Police obtained a search warrant after officers smelled a strong odor of marijuana.

Officers said Huff told them he was driving the vehicle to a friend’s house.

Police seized a black Ruger SR9c 9mm handgun with a loaded magazine.

Huff said the gun was his but was unable to prove documentation, police said.

“It was not reported stolen,” Officer Erin Kabler said. “We just don’t know who it belongs to.”

Police also seized $100 worth of suspected marijuana, a scale and an empty plastic bag.

Huff also was charged with multiple traffic offenses including driving without a valid license.

Both men are expected to be arraigned before District Judge Leonard Grecek of Roxbury.

In other criminal incidents reported by area police:



Scam alert

Richland Township police are warning people of the latest scam to hit the area.

Unknown people are calling residents asking for a donation for the fire department, police Detective Kevin Gaudlip said.

The callers request credit card numbers to make a $12.50 donation.

Several residents have been contacted, but none has given credit card information, he said.

“We want them to know it’s a scam,” Gaudlip said. “There are probably a lot of people in the Johnstown area who will get this call.”

Richland Fire Department does not solicit by telephone. Instead, firefighters send letters with the proper letterhead when they ask for donations, Gaudlip said.

Police are urging residents not to give out personal information to anyone who calls.



Illegal gun buy

HOLLIDAYSBURG – Authorities say a woman illegally purchased the gun that her boyfriend used to fatally shoot three people on a rural road in Blair County.

Brenda Shultz, 52, of Hollidaysburg, was charged Friday by state police with two counts of unsworn falsification and one felony firearms law violation. She was arraigned before District Judge Paula Aigner of Hollidaysburg and released on her own recognizance.

Police say Shultz bought a gun for Jeffrey Lee Michael on Jan. 29, 2011, in Hollidaysburg.

Michael’s ex-wife had previously obtained a restraining order against him.

Michael, 44, fatally shot three people near Geeseytown on Dec. 21 before being killed by police. His motive remains unclear, but friends have said Michael was fascinated with the apocalypse.

Shultz’s attorney, Lucas Kelleher, said Friday that Shultz bought the gun for herself.

He said the restraining order against Michael was no longer in effect.

A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.



Home invasion

INDIANA – State police are looking for five men who forced their way into an Indiana-area apartment and assaulted the three occupants before robbing them.

Police said the suspects broke into the Medlar Drive apartment of Rozh Rafiq Ali, 21, around 4 a.m. Wednesday. Two of the robbers held knives against the throats of Ali and Wafi Lafyan Alotailbi, 28, of Indiana, and demanded money.

The other three men then assaulted Abdullah Hazzaa Alsami, 23, of Indiana.

The five men, who were described as black, fled with a quantity of money, police said.



Child porn

A Johnstown man pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Kim Gibson.

Austin J. Correll, 32, of the 100 block of Wonder Street, admitted to knowingly possessing pictures and videos in computer graphic files that were produced using minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The files were shipped or transported through interstate or foreign commerce, prosecutors said.

Correll is scheduled for sentencing on June 12.

He could face 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.



Armed threat

HOMER CITY – A man pointed a handgun at a motorist who was stopped at a red light on Route 119 at the Sheetz intersection near Homer City, state police said Thursday.

The driver, described as white and in his late teens or early 20s, stopped his silver Toyota sedan next to the victim’s vehicle while making the threat on Jan. 19, police said.

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