Jun 3, 2017 2 min read

A minor traffic stop turned into a major drug bust for Elizabeth Borough police Friday evening, when they recovered 2,531 bags of heroin in West Elizabeth Borough.

Police officer Garrett Kimmell said he was following a vehicle for having a tinted license plate about 6:45 p.m. As he was initiating a traffic stop, the vehicle pulled into the loading dock of a closed business and three men got out of the car and started walking away.

Police said the three men were Deaubre Lightfoot of Donora, Demetrius Ward of Dunlevy and Terrance Stepoli of Monessen.

Kimmell said one of the men had a small amount of marijuana on his person, so he had his K-9 officer, Ryker, search the vehicle. Police found 50 bricks of suspected heroin, which is the equivalent to about 2,531 bags, Kimmell said.

“In this area, this quantity all at one time is the most I’ve seen,” Kimmell said.

Police also found large amounts of cash in the vehicle and each of the men had multiple cellphones, Kimmell said.

All three men were charged with criminal use of a communication facility, conspiracy, possession with intent to deliver, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Lightfoot, the driver of the vehicle, was additionally charged with abandonment of a vehicle and two summary offenses. Stepoli was additionally charged with a third count of possession of a controlled substance.

The men were arraigned before District Judge Richard Olasz Jr., are being held at Allegheny County jail, each on a $5,000 percentage bond. Their preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. June 14 before District Judge Beth Mills.