Girl, 14, among heroin suspects
Four people, including a 14-year-old Donora girl, were arrested on drug charges Sunday afternoon by Donora police after stamp bags of suspected heroin allegedly were found in their vehicle during a traffic stop on McKean Avenue near Market Street.
Arrested were Jessica Dawn Boyles, 21, of 766 McKean Ave., Donora; Michael George Frederick, 39, of Elizabeth; James Bradley Barto, 25, of 1145 Graham Ave., Monessen; and the teen.
Police watched the vehicle as it pulled out of a parking lot and stopped it at the on-ramp to the Donora-Monessen Bridge. After the vehicle came to a stop, police say the front-seat passenger, later identified as the 14-year-old, was seen facing a backseat passenger identified as Boyles and handing her something.
Police said Frederick appeared to be nervous. He claimed he had picked up the girl and her friend, identified as Barto, and another friend. They were reportedly heading to Barto’s home to get clothing. When police told Frederick of the suspicious movements, he claimed to not know what was going on in the vehicle. He told police he was driving so he could be paid for gasoline.
Police said Frederick claimed to have nothing illegal in the vehicle and granted permission to search it.
Police said they searched the car and found numerous bundles of suspected heroin in a sweatshirt tucked under the driver’s seat.
Additional bundles of heroin were found in the glove box, they said, along with a single bag found where Barto had been sitting.
Police reviewed surveillance cameras that cover the area where they initially saw Frederick’s vehicle parked. They said the girl is seen getting out of the vehicle and going into a home where she, Boyles and Barto later admitted the heroin had been purchased.
She is seen getting back into the vehicle moments before it was pulled over by police. Police said she returned with 100 stamp bags of suspected heroin, handing over 44 to Boyles. Fifty-five were found in the glove box, and the other was near Barto, police said.
Police Superintendent James Brice said the borough started installing cameras at different locations in the borough in February 2014 and continue to add more, including three that were expected to be installed Tuesday.
“They were all in the same car, and she is seen coming out of the house,” Brice said. “Cameras absolutely make a difference. We have made a lot of arrests by being able to go back and see what happened.”
Boyles and Frederick are charged with possession and possession with intent to deliver heroin and corruption of minors. Frederick also faces a turn signal violation. Barto is charged with possession of heroin. The 14-year-old is charged in a juvenile allegation with possession and possession with intent to deliver heroin.
The three adults were arraigned before District Judge Robert Redlinger and placed in Washington County Jail. Redlinger set bond at $25,000 for Boyles and Frederick and $5,000 for Barto, who also is jailed on a domestic relations warrant and probation detainer. The teen was turned over to Washington County sheriff’s deputies and transported to a juvenile detention facility.
The adults face a Sept. 24 preliminary hearing before District Judge Mark Wilson.