New Kensington residents charged after pound of suspected cocaine, weapons found in apartment
A man and woman from New Kensington face drug charges after police say they found about a pound of suspected cocaine and guns during a raid at an apartment late last month.
New Kensington police worked with narcotics agent Wes Biricocchi from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Drug Task Force to serve a search warrant April 25 for an apartment in the 1100 block of Fifth Avenue.
Police forced their way into the residence and found more than 450 grams — about one pound — of white powder, which field-tested positive for cocaine, according to a criminal complaint.
The complaint said they also found a loaded .40-caliber Glock and a Ruger, as well as a Glock 42 and ammunition, according to a criminal complaint.
Demmeco Smith, 32, and Shaniqua S. Johnson Rowe, 32, both of New Kensington, were charged with felony drug possession and related misdemeanors. An attorney listed in court records for Smith declined comment; an attorney listed for Johnson Rowe could not be immediately reached for comment.
A third person in the house when police arrived was later released without charges, according to court documents.
Smith was released after posting $75,000 bond. Johnson Rowe was taken to the Westmoreland County jail. Both face June 2 preliminary hearings in District Judge Frank J. Pallone’s New Kensington court.
Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com.
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