Police: Woman arrested on warrant faces felony for trying to conceal heroin in her underwear

New Kensington police charged a woman wanted on an warrants with a felony after they said she lied about having drugs in her possession when she was arrested for driving with a license that was suspended for DUI.

Ashley Rae Karns, 38, was charged with felony possession of contraband by an inmate along with three counts of drug possession and driving with a suspended license.

Karns, who told police she is homeless, is being detained in the Westmoreland County jail in lieu of a $15,000 bond, according to court records. Records from previous cases in which Karns was a defendant list her as a resident of Leechburg.

Karns was arrested on June 28 after a New Kensington police officer pulled over a Kia Forte she was driving near the Sunoco station along Freeport Road, according to a criminal complaint.

The officer said Karns that he knew her license was suspended for driving under the influence and that there were active warrants for her arrest.

While Karns was being taken into custody, the officer saw her drop a small knotted baggie behind a patrol vehicle, according to the complaint. Police said the bag contained a small amount of crystal meth.

Police said Karns responded “no” when she was repeatedly asked if she had “anything tucked on her person” while being taken to the New Kensington police station.

Police said two stamp bags of heroin were found in her underwear when she was strip searched, the complaint said.

Investigators reported finding a used syringe and a small container of crystal meth inside her purse.

She faces a preliminary hearing on those charges before District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. on Thurday, July14, according to court records.

Other incidents

Karns also is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on July 26 before District Judge J. Gary DeComo on charges of fleeing from police, false identification to law enforcement and four traffic citations filed on June 21 by South Buffalo Township police, according to court documents.

She also is awaiting trial in Westmoreland County court on felony retail theft and other charges filed in March 2021 by New Kensington police, court records show.

Court records show that Karns pleaded guilty in May 2021 to felony charges of criminal trespass and retail theft filed by New Kensington police. She was sentenced to a maximum of 23 months in jail, according to court records.