Two Women Waive Hearings on Drug Charges

Two women waived their right to a preliminary hearing before District Judge Kim M. Hoots on several charges stemming from an incident July 4 at the intersection of Pennwood and Whitney avenues in Wilkinsburg.

Lauren Martin Tarr, 28, of West Mifflin is charged with tampering with/fabricating physical evidence and intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered. An additional charge of conspiracy to manufacture, deliver, possession with intent to manufacture and deliver filed by Swissvale police was withdrawn.

A second woman, Amber Albright, 23, of Greensburg waived her right to a preliminary hearing on a charge of intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered. Additional charges of conspiracy to manufacture, deliver, possession with intent to manufacture; tamper with/fabricate physical evidence and intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered were withdrawn.

According to a criminal complaint, three detectives observed a blue Chevrolet Malibu turn onto Pennwood Avenue without a proper signal. After initiating a traffic stop, it appeared that the occupants were attempting to conceal something, the complaint states. The male driver was taken into custody for fleeing and eluding police.

An officer noticed a small bulge in Albright's right breast area. After a search, 14 stamp bags of heroin were removed from her bra.

After searching Tarr, an officer discovered 10 unused syringes in her purse.

Both were taken to the Wilkinsburg Police Department for processing. At the station, an officer noticed a stamp bag protruding from Tarr's shorts. The items were recovered from her.

Jitney Driver Tasered During Incident

Charles Lamar Byrd, 44, of the Hill District, Pittsburgh, waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Hoots on charges of disorderly conduct/engage in fighting, obstructing highways and resisting arrest after an incident in the area of the Dollar Store at Penn Avenue and Wood Street, Wilkinsburg.

Wilkinsburg police were patrolling the area Aug. 27 after complaints about illegitimate jitney drivers hanging out and taking up customer spaces in the business district. Officers had advised numerous individuals that they could no longer conduct a jitney business there.

Byrd was arrested for loitering in the same location on June 12, according to a criminal complaint. He has been removed from the location many times since and was told by police that he would be arrested the next time.

When the officer spotted him, Byrd walked toward his vehicle, the complaint states. When he was told he was under arrest, he become belligerent, used profanity then became aggressive as police tried to handcuff him.

The complain states Byrd walked away and refused verbal commands issued by police. He was hit with a Taser and fell to the ground, and then placed in custody. Byrd received minor scratches as he fell to the pavement.