New Kensington man found with stolen gun, drugs during traffic stop, police say
New Kensington police said they found a man concealing a stolen gun and carrying drugs after stopping him for vehicle violations Sunday.
According to a criminal complaint, an officer conducted a traffic stop on Joseph Michael Singer Jr., 35, of New Kensington shortly after midnight.
Police said Singer was driving a Pontiac Sunfire with heavy front window tint and missing a driver’s side mirror. Police said he also did not signal until he already was pulling into a parking spot on Fifth Avenue.
During the course of the traffic stop, police said, Singer was found to be in possession of about 1.46 pounds of liquid meth. Police said he also had regular meth, but did not state an amount or quantity in the affidavit.
Police said Singer also was in possession of a Ruger LCP .380 that had been stolen in North Huntingdon.
The stolen firearm was concealed in the vehicle, and Singer did not have a license to carry a firearm, police said.
Singer did not have an attorney listed in court records.
Police charged Singer with felony counts of receiving stolen property and carrying a firearm without a license, felony and misdemeanor drug offenses, and a summary traffic violation for an obstructed window.
Singer’s bail was set at $50,000 when he was arraigned Sunday, and he was sent to the Westmoreland County Prison.
He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing June 29 before New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr.
Brian C. Rittmeyer, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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