Published: October 14, 2009 11:30 pm      

Drug suspect recaptured after flight

GALLITZIN — A Pittsburgh woman charged with drug possession escaped from borough police while she was being processed but was recaptured.

Police had stopped a vehicle at 8:16 p.m. Tuesday because it had an inoperable brake light.

A passenger identified as Shavon Ruth Baskin, 22, was carrying a small bag of marijuana in her pocket and her purse contained a small scale, police said in a court document.

Baskin was taken to the Gallitzin police department for processing.

During the interview process, she was allowed to step outside to smoke.

“During one of her cigarette breaks while sitting on the steps of the office, Shavon Baskin tossed a plastic bag containing over 30 grams of crack cocaine,” police said in the document.

After police had finished fingerprinting Baskin – and while she still was uncuffed – she “fled out the side door of the police office

and ran into the rear yard (in the 400 block of) Church Street, knocking over a propane tank and small wooden flower fencing, causing several homeowners to come outside onto the street to see what was going on.”

Baskin was recaptured after foot chase, police said.

She was charged with escape, drug possession and possession of marijuana.

She was arraigned by District Judge Rick Varner of Salix and sent to Cambria County Prison after failing to post $75,000 bond.