Crime & Safety

Judge Hoots Holds Man and Woman for Court on Drug-Related Charges

See the results of hearing handled by District Judge Kim M. Hoots last week in her Wilkinsburg courtroom.

A Turtle Creek man and a Wilkinsburg woman were held for court by District Judge Kim M. Hoots on a variety of charges after a Wilkinsburg police officer discovered suspected crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop.

According to a criminal complaint, an officer on patrol along Penn Avenue noticed a vehicle traveling above the speed limit by about 10 to 15 mph and initiated a traffic stop.

The driver, Terrence Hubbard, 40, of 501 Locust St., Turtle Creek, did not have identification. He consented to a search and the officer discovered a glass crack cocaine pipe inside his pants pocket. Hubbard faces charges of conspiracy-intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered, intention possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered, use/possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked and obedience to traffic-control devices.

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As the officer checked the passenger, Tonya Ziegler, 43, of 1612 Mill St., Wilkinsburg, for weapons, he saw a plastic baggie in an inside pocket of her clothing containing an off-white substance, suspected to be crack cocaine, in a knotted plastic bag.

Ziegler faces charges of conspiracy-intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered and intention possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered. A charge of use/possession of drug paraphernalia filed by Wilkinsburg police was withdrawn.

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In other cases handled by Hoots on Jan. 17:

  • Thomas E. Royster, 65, of 2047 Chalfant St., Wilkinsburg, waived his right to a preliminary hearing on charges of driving under the influence (general impairment/incapable of driving safely, first offense), driving under the influence (highest rate of alcohol, blood alcohol content +.16 percent, first offense). The legal limit is .08 percent. A charge of failure to stop at a stop sign filed by Wilkinsburg police was withdrawn. According to a criminal complaint, a Wilkinsburg officer on routine patrol in the 1400 block of Montier Street spotted a car driving erratically, hit the curb and then travel through a steady red light at the intersection of Park and Swissvale. A check of the car registration showed it had expired in July 2011. Royster showed signs of intoxication and the officer detected the odor of alcohol. A breath analyzer test showed his blood alcohol content at .228 percent.
  • Shayne Dionte Hale, 23, of 223 Summer Drive, Monroeville, waived his right to a preliminary hearing on charges of driving under the influence (general impairment/incapable of driving safely, first offense), driving under the influence (highest rate of alcohol, blood alcohol content .10 to .16 percent, first offense). According to a criminal complaint, a Wilkinsburg officer on routine patrol heard the sound of a vehicle peeling off and accelerating at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Princeton Boulevard, then saw the car travel at a high rate of speed up Penn. After initiating a traffic stop at Graham Boulevard, the officer observed the driver, identified as Hale, had bloodshot and glassy eyes. His blood alcohol content was .183 percent by breath analyzer test.
  • Jason Hubert Jackson, 28, of 1314 Packer Ave., Braddock, waived his right to a preliminary hearing on charges of tampering with/fabricating physical evidence, intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered and use/possession of drug paraphernalia. Charges of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture/deliver and obstruct administration of law/other government function were withdrawn. Officers were dispatched for a complaint about a loud party in the 1500 block of Sylvan Terrace on Aug. 16, 2012. Inside, police saw Jackson leaning over a large coffee table with a credit card in his left hand, and then grab a handful of a substance later identified as crack cocaine. Police advised him to stop as he attempted to leave the room and, according to the criminal complaint, Jackson threw what was in his hand into his mouth. He proceeded to the basement, even though he was advised to stop. Police deployed a Taser and placed Jackson under arrest. In addition to the substance on the coffee table, police observed several empty clear capsules, scales, cell phones and several empty plastic bags. Because of an elevated heart rate, Jackson was transported to UPMC Shadyside. Police obtained a search warrant for the residence. They recovered three handguns, an assault rifle, ammunition, marijuana, scales, suspected crack cocaine, and plastic bags filled with several filled capsules containing the substance in the living room. 

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