Area residents charged in drug warrant sweep
Several local residents were captured during a drug warrant service by state police in Greensburg Wednesday.
Troopers associated with the SHIELD Team (Safe Highways Initiative Through Effective Law Enforcement) said they served more than a dozen warrants felony drug warrants on suspects in Fayette, Westmoreland and Washington counties after conducting a yearlong probe into illegal drug activity.
Among those captured during the sweep were David Robert Prinkey, 30, of Scottdale; Shane Edward Rush Jr., 23, of Scottdale and Tiffany Christifano, 31, of Newell.
Police said Prinkey was charged with felony possession with intent to deliver Oxycodone, Rush was charged with felony counts of possession with intent to deliver marijuana and forgery for circulating bogus $100 bills and Christifano was charged with a felony count of possession with intent to deliver Oxycodone.
Additionally, police said Shane Rush, 44, and Jonathon Babyak, 35, both of Mount Pleasant, were each charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin as a result of the sweep.
Other suspects captured in the roundup were from Charleroi, New Stanton, Smithton, Greensburg, Jeannette, North Huntingdon and Ruffsdale.
Eleven suspects wanted by police remain at large.
Police said the SHIELD Team is comprised of patrol troopers specifically trained and experienced in investigating drug trafficking.
Police said they worked in conjunction with the state police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Department, the state police Troop A Criminal Investigation Unit and the Troop A Vice Unit.