Two Washington County men arrested on drug charges after West Brownsville traffic stop
From left, Michael Anthony Cruz and Jonathan Wayne Livingood
Michael Anthony Cruz
Jonathan Wayne Livingood
Two Washington County men are in jail after a traffic stop Saturday in West Brownsville resulted in drug and other charges.
Michael Anthony Cruz, 27, of 744 Buena Vista St, Canton Township, and Jonathan Wayne Livingood, 25, of 440 E. Chestnut St., East Washington, were taken into custody during the stop by state police on Bridge Boulevard.
Police were patrolling an area of the borough reportedly known for drug use and transactions. The trooper stopped the vehicle, driven by Livingood, for an equipment violation.
When the trooper walked up to the vehicle, he could smell a strong odor of marijuana. When asked if there was anything illegal in the vehicle, the two men reportedly responded there was not. Livingood handed over his license while Cruz gave a fake name. He was identified later by another trooper who had previous contact with him.
The two men were asked to get out of the vehicle. A plastic bag of suspected cocaine fell from Livingood’s pants. A .45-caliber handgun that had been reported stolen to state police in Waynesburg Friday was found inside the vehicle under the passenger seat where Cruz had been sitting. Cruz had a large bag of suspected crack in his pants pocket along with marijuana wax.
Both men were arraigned before District Judge Jesse Pettit. Livingood is charged with receiving stolen property, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of cocaine and paraphernalia, driving under the influence of a controlled substance and traffic violations. Cruz is charged with dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, possession and possession with intent to deliver crack, possession of marijuana and paraphernalia, receiving stolen property, persons not to possess a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license, tampering with evidence and false identification to police.
Cruz was denied bond because he is considered a flight risk. He also has an active warrant in California. Livingood was placed in Washington County jail on $15,000 bond. Both are scheduled for Oct. 15 preliminary hearings before District Judge Joshua Kanalis.