Cops: Man who ran from Penn Township police had heroin, marijuana
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Penn Township Police say the man they chased along Route 130 early Tuesday was holding more than 120 stamp bags of heroin and told officers he won $1,254 cash “playing Russian roulette.”
Police didn’t buy the story and charged with Larry T. Richardson, 24, of Pittsburgh, with manufacturing, delivery and possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, flight to avoid apprehension, resisting arrest, possession of heroin, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Penn Township Sgt. Joseph Lewis said Richardson was a passenger in a car pulled over along Route 130 near Pleasant Valley Road for having a “loud, faulty exhaust.”
When asked for his identification, Lewis said Richardson handed him an ATM card and said he had no other identification. Lewis said the driver, who was not identified, complied with a request for identification but was asked to exit the car because the interior smelled of marijuana.
When Richardson was asked to exit the vehicle, Lewis said in court records he gave police a Pennsylvania identification card. When Lewis asked if Richardson if he had any illegal substances, he said Richardson admitted he had marijuana and handed him a small plastic bag.
Lewis asked about a bulge in his right pants pocket and he said Richardson turned over a second small plastic bag, also containing marijuana. Other officers arrived and, during a search of the car, police said they found a needle in a crevice of the seat where Richardson was seated, according to court records.
As an officer attempted to search Richardson’s pockets after his arrest, Richardson began running eastbound along Route 130 near Penn Trafford High School, according to police.
Patrolman Douglas Lewis was able to tackle Richardson after a short chase and discovered a small plastic bag next to him containing 60 stamp bags of suspected heroin and another clear plastic bag containing another 50 stamp bags.
Police said Richardson hid another 15 stamp bags in his underwear, which was found when he was searched at the police station.
Sgt. Joseph Lewis said Richardson told investigators “without being asked” that he won the $1,254 cash in his pocket playing “Russian roulette” the night before.
Russian roulette is a potentially lethal game where a player places a single round in a revolver, spins the cylinder, places the muzzle against their head, and pulls the trigger. It is illegal in Pennsylvania and other states.
Richardson was arraigned Tuesday before Senior District Judge James Falcon and ordered held in the Westmoreland County Prison after failing to post $25,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing Feb. 18 before Harrison City District Judge Helen Kistler.