A Crawford County woman who police consider a source of heroin trafficking in the Mon Valley is accused of biting a Monessen police officer Tuesday after allegedly refusing to remove seven bricks of suspected heroin from her bra.
Monessen police used a Taser to subdue Cynthia Clary, 28, of Cambridge Springs after she allegedly resisted arrest during a traffic stop about 9 a.m. on Route 906.
Her arrest is the result of an investigation by city police Lt. James Smith and the state Attorney General's Drug Task Force.
Smith said Clary, a convicted drug dealer, is a source of trafficking heroin into the Valley from the Philadelphia/New Jersey area. Clary has an extensive criminal history of drug-related arrests, Smith said. She is on parole in Northampton County after serving a state prison sentence on drug violations.
During undercover surveillance Tuesday, Smith said Clary was seen in a 2007 Ford Focus driven by Joseph S. Gallagher. Smith said Gallagher, 22, of Greensburg was driving with a suspended license and was wanted on a Westmoreland County bench warrant.
Officer Ryan Clark stopped Gallagher on Route 906 near 17th Street. During a patdown search of Gallagher, Clark discovered a hypodermic needle, according to the criminal complaint.
Smith was assisting on the passenger side when he noticed Clary breathing rapidly and reportedly appearing nervous. That's when he noticed a cellophane bag sticking out of Clary's shirt and bra, the complaint states.
After Clary was asked to get out of the car, she allegedly refused to remove the bag from her bra, the complaint states. During a patdown search by Officer Rebekah Shrader, Clary pushed herself away and became aggressive, police said.
Clary allegedly clutched her hands to her chest as Smith placed her on the ground and attempted to handcuff her. Clary then bit another officer's thumb as he tried to remove her hand from her chest. Smith said the officer was not injured.
Clary was subdued with a Taser after she continued to resist arrest, the complaint states. Once she was handcuffed, police removed the bag from Clary's bra. It allegedly contained 350 stamp bags – or seven bricks – of suspected heroin labeled “RX out of stock,” according to the complaint.
Smith charged Clary with manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest and simple assault.
She was arraigned Tuesday afternoon by Magisterial District Judge Joseph Dalfonso in Monessen and sent to the Westmoreland County Prison in Hempfield in lieu of $50,000 bond. Prior to being transported from the city lockup to the county jail, Clary was examined by ambulance personnel as a precaution due to being subdued by the Taser.
Clary faces a preliminary hearing before Dalfonso 10:15 a.m. Sept. 11.
Gallagher was taken to the county jail on the bench warrant.
Smith said the investigation is ongoing.
Monessen police Chief John Mandarino said Tuesday's arrest is another victory in the ongoing war on illegal drugs.
“Seven bricks (of heroin) might seem like a drop in the bucket when you look at the size of the problem, but it's seven bricks that won't be going onto the streets in Monessen,” Mandarino said. “We know we can't stop all illegal drugs from coming into the city, but we're doing everything we can to make it as difficult as possible.”
Stacy Wolford is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-684-2640 or swolford@tribweb.com.
