Wanted man caught, faces new drug charges in North Strabane traffic stop
A man wanted for causing an accident in which a woman was seriously injured was captured Wednesday during a traffic stop in North Strabane Township that resulted in him facing drug charges.
The suspect, Jason Frank Montani, 47, who has addresses in Carnegie and Richeyville, was charged with possessing 20 stamp bags of heroin after township police stopped a vehicle in which he was a passenger about 8:20 p.m., court records show.
Police also accused Montani of illegally possessing 11½ doses of prescription medication, a small amount of marijuana and a bag of crack during the traffic stop in the 1000 block of Route 519.
It was determined that Montani was wanted on charges of simple assault, reckless endangerment and harassment stemming for a one-vehicle accident March 4 in West Pike Run Township.
West Pike Run police said Montani was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Brandy Alderson about 9:30 a.m. when the two began to argue.
Montani allegedly grabbed the woman by her face, causing her to lose control of her vehicle on Richeyville Road near California Drive.
Her vehicle struck an abutment and rolled over. She was taken to Mon Valley Hospital in Carroll Township, where she was admitted for the treatment of a spinal fracture, the affidavit indicates.
Montani was placed in Washington County jail on $50,000 bond set by District Judge Larry Hopkins.