close

Drug task force arrests North Franklin man

2 min read
article image -

A North Franklin Township man was arrested Monday by detectives from the Washington County Drug Task Force after a traffic stop near his home.

Eric Dean Richards, 47, of 116 Blaine St., is accused of running from the detectives after they stopped his vehicle at West Maiden Street and Baltimore Avenue.

Richards was initially stopped for equipment violations. Detectives said they saw him throw a beer can out the window of his car as they activated the lights and sirens on their vehicle.

Detectives said they spotted paraphernalia on the rear passenger floor of the car. When the detectives tried to remove Richards from the car, he allegedly shoved Deputy Ron Catrain and ran across the road, going through backyards of homes in the area.

A detective used a Taser, but Richards kept running. Richards was tackled but continued struggling as detectives tried to take him into custody. He got up and started to run again before he was tackled a second time, police said.

When he was searched by a detective, Richards allegedly was found with suspected crack and $453. Paraphernalia, suspected oxycodone and marijuana were found inside the car, along with two cellphones, police said. Richards reportedly allowed detectives to look at his cellphones, and detectives said there were multiple text messages indicating suspected narcotic transactions.

Richards was arraigned before District Judge Curtis Thompson on charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, flight to avoid apprehension, criminal use of a communication device, disorderly conduct, possession and possession with intent to deliver crack, marijuana and oxycodone, possession of paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. He was placed in Washington County jail on $25,000 bond and is scheduled for a July 9 hearing before District Judge Robert Redlinger.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $3.75/week.

Subscribe Today