Police say Washington Township man had heroin, cocaine, gun in home with children

A Washington Township man is accused of having more than a brick of heroin, eight grams of cocaine and a handgun in a house where three young children live.

Keith B. Banichar, 29, was arraigned Thursday on multiple drug delivery and possession charges and three counts of child endangerment and taken to Westmoreland County Prison after failing to post $200,000 bond.

Police said they executed a search warrant at a home on Edgewood Drive where Banichar had been staying and seized the drugs, drug packaging materials, a 9mm handgun and about $3,800 in cash, according to court documents.

Police said 61 stamp bags of heroin were found in the vicinity of two 3-year-olds and a 5-year-old, the court documents said.

Five other adults inside the home were questioned and reported that Banichar “has been staying at the residence and has access to the whole house,” according to court documents. Police said they were investigating to determine who owns the handgun.

Court documents filed in other drug-related cases against Banichar in recent years indicated that he also has lived in Lower Burrell. Banichar listed the Edgewood Drive residence as his home in court documents filed Thursday.

In addition to Washington Township police, county detectives, agents from the state Attorney General’s Drug Task Force, state police and police from Lower Burrell, Murrysville, Upper Burrell and Vandergrift assisted.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 24 before District Judge Jason Buczak.