City man arrested after chase
During a search of a Washington home by task force detectives Friday, 50 grams of suspected cocaine, 15 stamp bags of suspected cocaine, a .380-caliber pistol, a large quantity of cash and counterfeit money were seized.
Martel Gavon Johnson
A Washington man accused of leading Washington police on a chase late Friday morning faces more charges by the Washington County District Attorney’s drug task force after detectives found drugs, a gun, cash and counterfeit money at a Washington home.
Martel Gavon Johnson, 25, of 195 Scott Ave., was charged with driving under suspension, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, leaving the scene of a crash, flight to avoid apprehension and resisting arrest.
Police attempted to stop Johnson after spotting him driving in the 1100 block of Allison Avenue. The officer knew Johnson’s license was suspended. Johnson also was wanted on felony drug charges in Cumberland County. The officer activated the emergency overhead lights on his cruiser, and Johnson pulled into Tube Alley and stopped.
Johnson was then ordered to turn off the vehicle. He allegedly ignored several orders to do so and instead drove off at a high speed as the car fishtailed on the gravel road. Police said Johnson lost control of the car, and it crashed into an attached garage at 80 Woodland Ave.
Police said Johnson got out of the car and ran, and officers chased him for about a block before taking him into custody.
Johnson was already under investigation by the task force, said Rick Gluth, task force director. That investigation led task force detectives to a home in the city. Detectives were given consent to search the home. Detectives seized 50 grams of suspected cocaine, 15 stamp bags of suspected heroin, a .380-caliber pistol, a large quantity of cash and counterfeit money.
Johnson will be charged by the task force with possession and possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of heroin, persons prohibited from possessing firearms and simulating objects of antiquity.
Also assisting in the investigation was the U.S. Secret Service.
“This is an important arrest,” said District Attorney Eugene Vittone. “Any time we can get a fugitive with a firearm off the street is a good day for law enforcement.”
On Tuesday, Johnson was arraigned before District Judge David Mark on charges of possession of hashish, marijuana and paraphernalia and driving without a license stemming from a Jan. 2 traffic stop by Canonsburg police at the intersection of Morganza and Weavertown roads.
Johnson was arraigned before District Judge Ethan Ward on the latest charges and placed in Washington County jail on $50,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for May 14 before District Judge Robert Redlinger on the chase-related charges.