Police arrest 2 after seizing $22K in meth at New Kensington home

Authorities said they seized methamphetamine worth more than $22,000 and arrested two people when they carried out a search warrant Wednesday on a Seventh Street Extension home in New Kensington.

Jason A. Wood, 51, and Tara Sue Gamble, 39, face felony and misdemeanor drug charges. They were arraigned Thursday, and each is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison on $25,000 bond.

Criminal complaints against Wood and Gamble were released Friday.

In the complaints, police said agents of the state Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigation worked with the Westmoreland County Drug Task Force to carry out a search warrant in the 500 block of Seventh Avenue Extension shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Police said agents found Gamble in the backyard. They entered the house and found Wood sitting at a kitchen table, where they said he was cutting a quantity of crystal methamphetamine on a dish.

Wood was arrested for possession of crystal methamphetamine.

Police said two other men were in the kitchen. No charges could be found against either.

Police said their search of the residence uncovered bags of suspected crystal meth, hallucinogenic mushrooms, .32-caliber ammunition, digital scales and a meth pipe. Police said they found $1,289 on Wood and $3,020 in a lockbox in the living room.

Police said a small portion of the evidence was field-tested and turned up positive for the presence of methamphetamine.

Police said the amount of crystal methamphetamine seized, 221.2 grams, along with the packaging and digital scales is consistent with possession with the intent to deliver.

The methamphetamine has a street value of about $22,100, police said.

Wood and Gamble did not have attorneys listed in court records.

They are scheduled for preliminary hearings Sept. 15 before New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr.