2 arrested in traffic stop in Canonsburg
Two people are in Washington County jail, one on weapons and drug charges and the other on a probation violation, following a traffic stop by Canonsburg police Monday night.
The passenger, Sheri King, 44, of 35 Ridgeview Ave., Canonsburg, is charged with possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number and possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia. The driver, Jesse James Stoner, 22, of 618 Moore Road, Washington, was taken into custody on a probation violation.
Police were on patrol about 10:40 p.m. on Euclid Avenue when they spotted a car with illegally tinted windows. When the car turned onto First Street, police conducted a traffic stop near Gladden Road.
As police approached, they said Stoner was spotted rummaging through items in a box and reaching under his seat. Concerned that Stoner was reaching for a weapon or trying to hide something, Officer Anthony Cancilla had him step out of the vehicle.
Stoner reportedly told the officer he was reaching for his wallet. According to police, he also said he had no license, only a state identification card, and was driving because his “Aunt Sheri” was sick.
Police said King also was seen moving items around in the same box as Stoner and digging through her purse. When asked if she had anything to hide, King reportedly told police she had nothing to hide and an officer could search her vehicle.
Police said an initial search turned up paraphernalia in her purse and a second search of the purse at the station yielded a small bag of suspected uncut heroin stuffed in a pill bottle.
Inside the box found in the car was a black, .44-Magnum Smith & Wesson revolver with the serial numbers obliterated, police said. The gun had been covered with two pieces of cloth.
King told police she has a permit to carry a firearm and a friend had just given her the gun. Police confirmed she has a permit to carry a weapon. Police said they found a serial number on the handle of the firearm, under the grip covers, but they found no record when they ran the registration.
Stoner was put in jail on the probation violation. King was arraigned before District Judge Ethan Ward and placed in Washington County jail on $100,000 bond. Her preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 16 before District Judge David Mark.