Murrysville man sold drugs out of Monroeville pretzel shop, police say

A business owner has been arrested for selling prescription pain pills out of his drive-thru pretzel shop window in Monroeville, officials said.

Police and federal agents said they observed Brian Schlagel of Murrysville buy and sell pills out of his business and home over the course of several months, according to a criminal complaint.

Schlagel, 45, owns Philly Pretzel Factory on William Penn Highway in Monroeville. He is facing felony and misdemeanor charges including possession with intent to deliver and tampering with evidence.

On Thursday, Schlagel was taken into custody in the parking lot of a Monroeville car dealership, where police said he purchased 240 oxycodone pills for about $14,000. Police said the Schlagel is known to sell prescription pills out of the Philly Pretzel Factory for inflated prices, as well as purchasing drugs out of the business, police said.

He used profits from the Philly Pretzel Factory location to purchase large amounts of prescription pills, according to the criminal complaint.

Schlagel has been known for his drug activity in the Murrysville/Export area, according to the complaint. One witness interviewed by police said that Schlagel was “the biggest pill dealer” in the Export area.

Police said they witnessed Schlagel in the Spitzer Toyota parking lot on Thursday. He met with a man and purchase $14,000 worth of pills, and that when Schlagel saw the police, he was “resistant, non-compliant, and tampered with evidence.” He attempted to hide the pill bottle in the car door of the man’s car, and attempted to hide an envelope full of cash in between the car’s seat.

Additionally, police said they obtained via search warrant approximately $11,000 in additional money, drug paraphernalia, and two pill bottles prescribed to Schlagel from his vehicle.

In 2016, Schlagel was jailed for hitting two motorcyclists with his SUV and then driving away. One of the motorcyclists suffered fractured ribs and fractured spinal vertebrae as a result. According to court documents, Schlagel pleaded guilty to a felony charge of accidents involving death or personal injury and was sentenced to 4 to 23 months of confinement.