Carnegie man sent to jail on weapons, drug charges
A Carnegie man was placed in Washington County jail on drug and gun charges stemming from a traffic stop last August in South Strabane Township where he reportedly tried to flee from state police.
William A. Tillar, 30, of 85 Noblestown Road, is charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin, person not to possess a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license, receiving stolen property, possession of paraphernalia, fleeing or attempting police, trespass by motor vehicle and several traffic and equipment violations.
A trooper tried to stop a car with a heavy window tint, burned out registration light and a license plate that was not listed as being registered to any vehicle.
The trooper pulled behind the car on Route 19 at Interstate 70 west and followed it, remaining behind it as it got off on Jefferson Avenue and continued onto streets in Washington’s Tylerdale neighborhood. The car went through several stop signs before turning onto North Main Street and Kelly Drive and onto Applevalley Road. The driver continued down a private lane, traveling through a side yard around the back of a residence. Trooper Raymond Harding ran around the house and heard a car door open. The trooper found an open door to the house and announced himself to warn the resident. Harding yelled for the occupants to wind down the windows because he could not see inside the vehicle because of the darkness and heavy tint on the windows.
Two passengers in the car wound down the windows and were ordered to stick their hands out the window. They were ordered to get out of the car, one at a time, and lie on the ground.Washington police Officer Matt Karlowsky and his K-9 Golem arrived. The dog immediately went to an area of high grass and brush, finding a small black shoebox that contained money. A semiautomatic pistol was found near the box. A plastic bag containing numerous bags of heroin was found in high grass about 20 feet from the driver’s door.
The two passengers reportedly identified Tillar as the driver who had fled the scene. Police also found Tillar’s cellphone tucked inside the driver’s seat of the car that was registered to his girlfriend.
District Judge Jay Weller set bond at $25,000. Tillar is scheduled for a Feb. 16 preliminary hearing before Weller.