Mar 27, 2017 3 min read

Washington police took two men into custody Friday morning on drug charges after stopping their vehicle on West Chestnut Street because one of them was wanted on a warrant obtained by the Washington County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force.

James R. Leach, 45, of 101 N. Main St., Washington, was wanted stemming from the execution of a search warrant at a home in the 600 block of Addison Street where he was known to stay. The driver, Richard Dale Fumich, 53, of 283 Walnut Road, Claysville, was arrested after he allegedly was found with suspected crack.

City police were watching the Addison home when they saw Leach exit and get into a vehicle driven by Fumich. Police stopped the vehicle a short time later.

The task force got a search warrant from Washington County Judge John DiSalle to search the Addison home, serving it March 3. Police said Leach was inside the home and had three digital scales, including one that appeared to have cocaine residue on it. On one of the cellphones seized at the house, detectives said they found text messages with content usually associated with trafficking of controlled substances.

Detectives also found the keys to a vehicle that was parked in front of the house and associated with Leach. State police Trooper Christina Marth and her K-9, Brutus, checked the vehicle. When the dog alerted to the presence of a controlled substance, detectives obtained a search warrant from DiSalle. Police said crack and cash were found inside the vehicle. A witness reportedly told investigators Leach was the last person inside the vehicle.

Police said Leach was found Friday with two stamp bags of suspected heroin a crack pipe and a large amount of cash. Fumich said they patted down Fumich and found the suspected crack.

Both were arraigned before District Judge Robert Redlinger. Leach was arraigned on the task force warrant charging him with possession and possession with intent to deliver heroin, criminal use of a communications facility and possession of paraphernalia. He was placed in Washington County jail on $500,000 bond and is scheduled for an April 12 hearing before Redlinger. City police plan to charge him with drug possession in connection with Friday’s incident.

Fumich is charged with possession and possession with intent to deliver crack and possession of paraphernalia. He was released from Washington County jail after posting $25,000 bond. He is scheduled for an April 10 hearing before Redlinger.