Uniontown man to stand trial on drug charges
A Uniontown man who police said was in possession of drugs, guns and cash during a traffic stop in Uniontown earlier this month will stand trial.
State police Trooper Justin Coda said Leonard Allen Tucker, 29, of 208 Connellsville St. was charged before Magisterial District Judge Joseph M. George Jr. with two counts of drug possession following the incident on March 7.
Magisterial District Judge Michael M. Metros held all charges against Tucker for Fayette County Court following a preliminary hearing Tuesday morning.
A second suspect in the incident, Wesley D. Middleton, 33, of 146 Madison Ave., Uniontown, has yet to have a hearing on the same charges filed against him.
Coda said the charges against both men were filed after he conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle the men were traveling in on Madison Avenue.
In the affidavit of probable cause filed in the case, Coda said he smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and said both men acted suspicious by moving around and shuffling inside the car.
Coda said that the men allowed police to search the car and inside officers discovered a can of tire cleaner. Upon further inspection, Coda said that the can had a false bottom and officers found eight bags of marijuana inside the can.
Police also discovered a loaded assault rifle inside the vehicle, as well as six additional bags of marijuana.
Coda said that a loaded .40-caliber handgun was found in Middleton’s waistband and nearly $2,000 was discovered in Tucker’s pockets.
Uniontown police assisted state police during the traffic stop and subsequent search of the vehicle.
Tucker and Middleton both remain in Fayette County Prison on $10,000 straight cash bond following their arraignments.