Arrests halt 'drive-through' drug business at New Stanton motel, police say

Nearly $6,000 and 200 bags of heroin were confiscated Wednesday from two men who allegedly were running a “drive-through” drug operation out of rooms at a New Stanton motel, according to court documents.

Leon Rahmond Morrison, 27, of Wilkinsburg, and Deshaun Curtis Jones, 23, of Arnold, are facing conspiracy and drug charges.

Westmoreland County Detective Tony Marcocci said local police, state troopers and agents from the state Attorney General's office put a damper on the alleged “drive-through” operation at Budget Inn late Tuesday night.

“When we were there, drug buyers were calling constantly,” Marcocci said. “It was a joint effort amongst all the agencies to shut it down.”

Acting on a tip, Marcocci and Greensburg police Detective Jerry Vernail executed search warrants on three rooms at the motel on Tuesday night.

“During the execution ... a number of individuals were found to be sitting and/or standing on the sidewalk in front of the various rooms,” the investigators wrote in affidavits of probable cause.

Morrison allegedly ran off and was chased by state troopers, who eventually detained him.

Investigators seized heroin, cocaine, marijuana and other illegal substances from the three rooms and a fourth they were permitted to search. Jones and Morrison each were renting one room, police said.

Approximately $2,000 and a 0.25 ounce of suspected crack cocaine were found on Morrison, police said. About $3,700 was found inside Jones' Jeep in a parking lot, police said.

New Stanton is attractive to drug traffickers because of its proximity to major highways, including routes 119 and Interstate 70 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Marcocci said.

“Once again, here are people from (outside the area) setting up shop to peddle their drugs to our kids,” he said.

Morrison and Jones were arraigned Wednesday on charges of conspiracy, drug possession and two counts of possession with intent to deliver. Neither had an attorney listed in online court records.

Both are being held in the Westmoreland County jail on $100,000 bond. Preliminary hearings are set for Oct. 1 before District Judge Charles Moore.

Renatta Signorini is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-837-5374 or rsignorini@tribweb.com.