Traffic stop nets drugs found in diaper bag
REDSTONE TWP. – Charges are pending against two Fayette County residents after police discovered drugs hidden in a diaper bag during a traffic stop in Redstone Township Monday. Redstone Township police Officer Norman L. Howard said multiple charges are pending against a 39-year-old Brownsville woman and a 29-year-old Hiller man after he discovered suspected cocaine in the bag.
Howard said the incident began when he made a routine check at Hunters Ridge Apartments around 9:35 p.m.
He said that Hunters Ridge security officer Vicki Owens requested his assistance in removing a woman who is not allowed at the apartments from the complex.
Howard said he and Owens walked into the complex and stopped a vehicle traveling toward the gated entrance.
Howard said Owens identified the passenger as the defiant trespasser.
Howard said he ordered the woman from the vehicle and conducted a pat-down search in which he discovered a plastic bag of suspected crack cocaine.
Howard said the woman also appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Subsequently, she was taken into custody.
At that point, Howard said he asked the man in the driver’s seat to exit the vehicle. He also was under the influence of alcohol, Howard said, and was taken into custody.
Howard said he then discovered an 11-month-old baby asleep in a car seat in the back of the vehicle. The seat was not properly installed in the car, Howard said.
While removing the child from the vehicle, Howard said he noticed a diaper bag on the floor of the passenger’s side of the vehicle. He said both the driver and the passenger denied knowing anything about the bag.
Howard said inside the bag he discovered nearly one ounce of suspected cocaine as well as various items of drug paraphernalia. The drugs and drug paraphernalia were strewn among baby diapers and baby bottles inside the bag, Howard said.
Police also found a dinner plate with suspected cocaine on it inside a pocket on the back of the driver’s seat of the vehicle as well as several open beer cans.
Howard said he gave custody of the baby to a relative.
Fayette County Children and Youth Services were notified.
The street value of the suspected cocaine found in the diaper bag is about $2,800, police said.