Two men charged in drug case in Union Twp.
A controlled drug purchase by Monongahela police in Union Township Tuesday night ended in a chase and crash and the arrest of two men.
William E. Smith, Jr., 54, of 69 Stone Church Road, Union Township, and Leo Owens, 31, of Clairton, were taken into custody after Owens crashed his vehicle, which had three tires flattened when it went over spike strips near Kennedy Street and Route 837 during the pursuit that ended in New Eagle, court records show.
Police Chief Brian Tempest said arrangements were made with an informant to make a $100 crack purchase from Smith about 5:30 p.m. at Route 837 and High View Lane.
“A vehicle pulled in. Smith got out and made a hand-to-hand transaction with the informant,” Tempest said. “Our officers then identified themselves, Smith ran and got back into the vehicle, which then fled south.”
Owens continued driving with his vehicle’s flattened tires onto Route 88 before crashing into a parked vehicle near Madiera Street, Tempest said.
The occupants refused to open the door, Tempest said, and the two could been seen trying to conceal something. Police entered the vehicle after an officer broke the driver’s side window, court records show. As Owens and Smith were removed from the vehicle, police spotted what appeared to be white rocks on the floor. Tempest said officers obtained a search warrant and found several grams of crack in the vehicle and a clear plastic bag containing 11 oxycodone pills in a golf bag in the trunk.
Tempest said Monongahela police have been patrolling in Union for about five weeks.
“We have been getting calls from residents about drug activity,” Tempest said. “We appreciate the information. And we encourage residents to keep calling.”
Both men were arraigned before District Judge Mark Wilson. Smith is charged with delivery and possession of crack and criminal use of a communication facility. Owens is charged with possession with intent to deliver, reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence, fleeing from police and driving without a license. Both were placed in Washington County jail on $100,000 bond and are scheduled for Feb. 22 preliminary hearings before District Judge James Ellis.
Staff writer Scott Beveridge contributed to this report.