NEW CASTLE (100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA) — On March 24, New Castle City Police pulled over a black Town and Country as part of a drug trafficking operation.
Officers had been tracking the van and its occupants and finally pulled over the vehicle near Falls Street and South Jefferson Street in New Castle Wednesday night.
As mentioned, the traffic stop was part of a larger narcotics operation done by a combination of the New Castle City Police Department, the Lawrence County District Attorneys Special Investigative Unit, and the PA Office of Attorney General.
The vehicle had been tracked from New Castle to Detroit, Michigan and back.
And at around 11:47 p.m., the van was stopped after officers noticed vehicle “code violations.”
Officers unleashed their K9 Unit, aka Frankie, to sniff the vehicle for any positive hits.
And Frankie did indeed discover some narcotics — under the rear seat of the van.
After a search warrant was obtained, multiple small bags were found with cocaine, crack cocaine, and ecstasy pills.
The two occupants of the van had nearly $1,150 in cash on hand.
And those occupants were identified as the 49-year-old Eric Purnell and the 44-year-old Patrick Hicks.
Both are being charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled or counterfeit substance.
They are also both currently housed in the Lawrence County Jail.