Traffic stop results in drugs, weapons charges

By KATHY MELLOTT
The Tribune-Democrat

WILMORE July 01, 2009 11:28 pm

— An aggressive-driving enforcement in Summerhill Township landed a Johnstown man and a companion from Maryland in the Cambria County Prison on drugs and weapons charges, police Chief Paul Bonfanti said Wednesday.
Arrested were Quinn Abdul Baxter, 19, of the 700 block of Horner Street, Johnstown, driver of the vehicle, and passenger Christopher Aaron Smith, 29, of the 3000 block of Fort Meade Road, Laurel, Md.
They were traveling west on Route 53 south of Wilmore on June 19 when township police pulled them over as part of an effort to prevent accidents.
“It was a routine traffic stop,” Bonfanti said. “They were following the car in front of them too closely.”
Officers confiscated a loaded 9 mm pistol on which the serial number had been filed off, 12 bags of heroin, two 8-balls (one-eighth ounce each) of crack cocaine and some cash.
Both men are charged with drug possession, possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, illegal possession of a firearm with an altered serial number and criminal conspiracy. Baxter also was charged with the summary offense of driving without a license.
Both remain in prison, Bonfanti said.
Their preliminary hearings are scheduled July 22 before District Judge Galen Decort of Portage.