Four Ohio residents arrested on drug charges after I-70 traffic stop
From left, Kina Simon, Oscar Simmons, De'Jonnea L. Gilliam and Hidisous Bernard Parson
Kina Simon
Oscar Simmons
De'Jonnea Gilliam
Hidisous Parson
A traffic stop by state police on Interstate 70 eastbound near the West Alexander exit in Donegal Township early Wednesday afternoon ended with the arrest of four Ohio residents on drug charges after police say suspected crystal methamphetamine was found hidden in a box on the frame of the vehicle.
De’Jonnea L. Gilliam, 22, Hidisous Bernard Parson, 39, and Kina Lashae Simon, 25, all of Dayton, and Oscar Fred Simmons, 27, of Columbus, were taken into custody near the West Alexander exit ramp.
Trooper Justin Coda was monitoring eastbound traffic near the Pennsylvania/West Virginia state line when he noticed a 2007 Chevrolet Suburban with heavily tinted windows. The license plate was obscured with a cover. Coda stopped the vehicle.
Simon was the driver. Simmons was sitting in the front passenger seat, and Parson and Gilliam were in the back seat. While speaking to the occupants of the vehicle, Coda reportedly smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. All four had conflicting stories about their destination and other particulars of their travels, police said. Coda believed drugs were in the vehicle and reported finding a bag of suspected marijuana in the center console.
The four were taken into custody. The vehicle was towed to the state police barracks in North Bethlehem Township. Judge John DiSalle signed a search warrant for the vehicle. Police said a magnetic box was found on the frame of the vehicle, under the passenger side door. The box was removed and opened, and police said they found two bags containing about a quarter pound of crystal meth. Another bag containing another quarter pound of crystal meth was found in the steering column of the Suburban, according to police, and a black purse wristlet on the dash of the vehicle had a small plastic bag of suspected marijuana inside it.
State police said Simmons also had a bag of suspected marijuana.
Trooper Robert Broadwater, public information officer for state police Troop B, said drugs have been coming through the area from Ohio.
All four were arraigned Wednesday night before District Judge Jesse Pettit on charges of possession with intent to deliver crystal meth, possession of marijuana and conspiracy. They were each placed in Washington County jail on $250,000 bond. The four are scheduled for an Aug. 20 preliminary hearing before District Judge Ethan Ward.