Peters Township police arrest man accused of stealing
A South Strabane Township man suspected of stealing items from vehicles was arrested early Thursday by Peters Township police after a resident of a Venetia neighborhood called to report a suspicious man.
Jesse Templeton, 26, was also found with 33 stamp bags of suspected heroin along with 105 empty stamp bags when he was apprehended by police.
Police were called about 3:15 a.m. to the 500 block of Scenic Ridge Drive for a report of a suspicious man in a blue, hooded sweatshirt who was reportedly trying to break into a vehicle. The man fled on foot.
As police approached the area, an officer spotted a green Nissan Sentra near the intersection of Bower Hill Road and Sienna Trail traveling from the area where the suspicious man had been reported. The officer ran the registration and learned the vehicle was registered to an address in Washington.
The officer noticed the vehicle had something hanging from underneath it and stopped the car. The muffler was being held together with a bandana. Templeton, who was dressed in a blue, hooded sweatshirt, was identified as the driver.
Inside the vehicle, the officer could see black latex gloves on the back floor and four pairs of sunglasses on the rear seat. North Strabane Township police arrived to assist. Templeton agreed to allow police to search his car. Police found at least five cellphones and numerous gift cards strewn through the car. Police also found a large blue pillow sack containing almost $200 on the back passenger floor. Also found inside were flashlights, a ski mask, more gloves, computers and jewelry.
North Strabane, Peters and Chartiers police are investigating to determine if Templeton was involved in the recent rash of vehicles being entered in those municipalities.
Templeton was arraigned before District Judge Jay Weller on charges of theft from a vehicle, receiving stolen property, loitering and prowling at night, possessing an instrument of crime, possession and possession with intent to deliver heroin and possession of heroin. He was placed in Washington County jail on $25,000 bond. He is scheduled for a March 21 preliminary hearing before District Judge James Ellis.