Traffic stop leads Kiski Township police to arrest man on parole violation for drug conviction

In a traffic stop Wednesday, Kiski Township police arrested a man wanted for a parole violation on drug charges from 2019, according to authorities.

An officer on patrol along Route 56 stopped Damien Kemerer, 32, of Vandergrift after he ran a stop sign at Balsiger Road, according to a criminal complaint.

The officer wrote in the complaint that he had to restrain Kemerer to prevent him from swallowing the drug Suboxone, which is used to treat opioid addiction but can be abused.

The drug also was found in the vehicle, along with a crack pipe, police said.

Kemerer was wanted on a parole violation in connection with his 2019 conviction for possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance as well as operating a vehicle with a license suspended for driving under the influence.

The vehicle Kemerer was driving also had an inspection sticker stolen from another vehicle, according to police.

Kemerer was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with evidence. He also faces charges of having forged or counterfeit documents and vehicle code violations.

He was taken to the Armstrong County Jail on the new charges and the parole violation after failing to post a $5,000 bond, according to court records.

Kemerer faces a preliminary hearing on the charges before Kittanning District Judge James Andring on Nov. 17. He did not have a lawyer listed in court records.