Pratt waives drug-related charges
A Masontown man reached a tentative plea agreement with Fayette County prosecutors on multiple charges involving drug-related incidents in Uniontown in October and November. Eugene M. Pratt II, 25, of 217 Jefferson Ave. waived charges of possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, tampering with evidence and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver following two separate incidents in Uniontown. A charge of receiving stolen property was dismissed.
According to police, Pratt agreed to serve three to six months in state prison for the charges during a preliminary hearing held Tuesday in Uniontown.
Uniontown police Officer Eric S. Hanula said the bulk of the charges against Pratt were filed after officers spotted Pratt driving a stolen car on Coolspring Street around 7:15 p.m. Nov. 13.
Police pulled Pratt over on Connellsville Street, ordered him from the car and told him to place his hands on the vehicle, Hanula said. As he exited his vehicle, Pratt allegedly pulled a piece of brown paper bag from his pants and placed it in his mouth, Hanula said.
Hanula said he and officer Thomas Kolencik were forced to use a TASER and Mace to get him to spit out the item, Hanula said. He said that Pratt allegedly consumed one-quarter ounce of cocaine that was in the piece of bag.
In an unrelated case Uniontown police Chief Jason A. Cox charged Pratt with possession with intent to deliver marijuana following an incident in Uniontown on Oct. 29.
A third set of charges – including theft of a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle – also were filed against Pratt by Masontown police Nov. 17 but were later withdrawn. Pratt was remanded to the Fayette County Prison following the hearing.