Agents seize $22K in drugs during raids at 2 apartments in New Kensington

Police arrested two men and confiscated more than $22,000 worth of drugs when they raided a pair of apartments in the same building last week in New Kensington.

The March 8 raids were conducted at a home in the 1200 block of Constitution Boulevard by agents from the state Attorney General’s Office and the Westmoreland County Drug Task Force, which includes officers from New Kensington, Arnold and surrounding communities.

Brandon Deshawn Hughley, 20, was charged by Arnold police with three felony counts of possession with the intent to deliver drugs along with four other drug-related offenses. He was released from the Westmoreland County jail after a $75,000 bond was posted by a Pittsburgh bond agency.

He faces a preliminary hearing March 21 before District Judge Frank Pallone Jr.

Attorney General’s Office agents charged John Medved, 57, with a felony count of possession with the intent to deliver drugs and two other drug-related charges. He was released from custody on a $25,000 unsecured bond. Medved’s preliminary hearing before Pallone is scheduled for March 24.

Investigators said Hughley and a 17-year-old girl were met by police when they tried to go out the back door as agents knocked on the front door announcing they were executing a search warrant, according to his arrest papers.

Police said they spotted a rolled marijuana “blunt” in the hallway Hughley used to try to leave. Police got written permission from him to search the apartment, the criminal complaint said.

Authorities said they confiscated 105 grams of crack cocaine with a street value of $10,500, 16.8 grams of powdered cocaine valued at $1,680 and $2,510 worth of marijuana, according to the complaint.

Police said they also confiscated a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson pistol with no record of ownership, a digital scale and $525 in cash.

Investigators returned to the apartment later that night to execute a second search warrant and found Medved home alone in his bedroom, the complaint said.

A glass jar filled with 77 grams of cocaine, along with a digital scale and plastic baggies, were confiscated from the bedroom, his arrest papers said.