2 arrested after crystal meth, $7,000 found in SUV in Unity

Two people are facing drug charges after authorities said they found about $7,000 worth of crystal methamphetamine in a vehicle they were using, according to court papers.

Westmoreland County sheriff’s deputies were attempting to serve a bench warrant on Collin Quakenbush 26, of Bradenville, before 8 a.m. Wednesday in Unity when they said they spotted him and Alisha N. McAteer, 28, of Latrobe jump out of an SUV and run away. The drugs and $7,000 were found in the vehicle, which was abandoned on Latrobe Crabtree Road, police said.

County detectives were called in after deputies found about 3 1/2 ounces of crystal methamphetamine in a backpack inside the SUV, according to court papers. Investigators said they confiscated two digital scales.

Quakenbush was located at a Hannastown home and taken into custody, according to Sheriff James Albert. A Latrobe Crabtree Road resident told investigators that he refused to let McAteer inside and she fled into a wooded area before being located by police.

Quakenbush was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison on $50,000 bail. McAteer was free on unsecured bail, according to online court records. Neither suspect had an attorney listed. Preliminary hearings are set for July 18.

A bench warrant hearing was held Thursday for Quakenbush in a 2021 drug case in Latrobe, according to online court records. He was ordered to remain detained. Trials are pending in two other drug-related cases against him. McAteer is awaiting trial in an August impaired driving case, according to online court records.