Homicide ‘person of interest’ and two others charged in Dunbar drug bust
A person of interest in a homicide and two others are facing charges after a drug bust at a Dunbar Township duplex.
State police were at the 316B 1st Street home late Thursday looking for Brian Eugene McFadden, 44, of 110 Chrysler Street in Connellsville when they found suspected crack cocaine, suspected powder cocaine and a stolen handgun. McFadden and Brandon Allen Laffitte, 30, of 1122 Race Street in Connellsville surrendered peacefully, according to court documents. An arrest warrant was issued for Marissa Joell Leos, 31, for allegedly harboring McFadden. She leases the duplex, court documents said.
Charges were filed Friday after police found 33 grams of suspected crack cocaine, 50 grams of suspected powder cocaine, a scale, a loaded 9-mm Springfield handgun, stamp bags, 15 cellphones and other paraphernalia after conducting a search warrant, paperwork filed in the case indicated.
McFadden was described in court documents as a “suspect/person of interest” in a homicide that is under investigation by the state police criminal investigations unit in Uniontown. He also had an active arrest warrant, police said.
Laffitte was wanted for DUI, police said.
The three are facing charges of possession with intent to deliver, conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver, selling a non-controlled substance represented as a controlled substance, theft of lost property, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of an instrument of crime with intent and offensive weapons. Leos is facing an additional charge of hindering apprehension or prosecution.
Laffitte and McFadden are lodged in Fayette County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bonds. They face preliminary hearings Oct. 10 at 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. respectively.