NEW BALTIMORE — Two Jamaican nationals are in the Somerset County Jail after state police said they seized $60,000 worth of marijuana and a stolen handgun from their BMW sport utility vehicle.
Jermain George Williams, 28, of West Mifflin, Allegheny County, and Alixe Jermaine Patterson, 29, of New York, were stopped shortly before midnight Monday on the turnpike.
Their SUV had illegal tinted windows, state police Sgt. Anthony DeLuca said in a court document.
The BMW X5 was pulled over at milepost 123 in Allegheny Township.
Armed with a search warrant, troopers found 30 pounds of pot stashed inside in a green suitcase in a rear compartment, DeLuca said.
They also recovered a loaded .45-caliber Colt pistol that had been reported stolen in Pittsburgh.
The men were traveling from New York to Pittsburgh when Williams’ vehicle was stopped, DeLuca said.
The toll road is considered a major drug pipeline to Pittsburgh from cities along the East Coast, and often is the scene of major heroin, cocaine and marijuana busts in the mountains of Somerset County.
Last year, state police at the turnpike barracks in the county seized more than $4 million worth of drugs, guns, jewelry and other contraband.
Most of the busts began with relatively minor stops for speeding through con-struction zones, tinted windows that areillegal in Pennsylvania, objects hanging from rearview mirrors and even brakingtoo hard coming out of the Allegheny Tunnels.
It’s unclear where Williams and Patterson fit into the hierarchy of the drug trade. DeLuca said the Jamaicans also could face federal drug charges.
The U.S. National Immigration Customs Enforcement and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency are continuing the investigation, he added.
Williams and Patterson were arraigned Tuesday by District Judge William Roush of Boswell on drugs and weapons charges.
They were sent to the Somerset County Jail after failing to post bond.
Local News
$60,000 in pot seized
- Local News
-
-
Two Cambria district judge offices to be cut
Two of Cambria County’s 10 magisterial districts could be eliminated as President Judge Timothy Creany looks at realigning boundaries to cut costs while taking into consideration caseloads of the district judges and population changes.
-
Westmont couple inseparable, even in death
People who knew James and Marjorie Landis of Westmont said the two were nearly always together.
-
Company buys valuables from people ready to unload
Jan Hagerich’s buffalo nickel was “healthy” – which was unhealthy for her finances.
-
Blogging with heart
I was feeling overwhelmed yesterday, so today, I’m organizing my work. I have talked to probably a couple dozen people for Heart Month stories and I have pages and pages of notes.
-
Special Olympics return to region
Game on.
More than 300 athletes eager to show off their skills, along with 135 coaches, will be coming to the region to take part in the 2012 Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games. -
Special Olympics Schedule
Here is a list of events related to the Pennsylvania Special Olympics Winter Games through Tuesday at venues across the region:
Saturday
• Laurel Highlands Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics; Quemahoning Reservoir near Boswell; registration at 9:30 a.m.; plunge at 1 p.m. -
Water rates going up to pay for line project
An estimated $9 million Windber Area Authority transmission line project will likely head toward construction late this summer.
-
Citizens eye cost-cutting measures
A total of 16 members of a concerned citizens group volunteered to serve on a committee to develop cost-saving ideas that will be presented to the Westmont Hilltop school board.
-
Critz co-sponsoring bills that support emergency responders
U.S. Rep. Mark Critz, D-Johnstown, said he is co-sponsoring several bills that support emergency responders.
-
IN BRIEF | Police investigating shooting of city man
State police in Indiana County are investigating the shooting of a Johnstown man late Tuesday or early Wednesday, authorities said.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Two Cambria district judge offices to be cut
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Video of Ga. Man Who Killed Girl Released
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
