A man pulled over for a traffic violation Tuesday while exiting the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Hempfield was arrested on drug and firearms charges after state troopers discovered 50 bricks of suspected heroin and a loaded handgun inside his car, according to court documents.
Khasuante S. Thompson, 26, of Penn Hills, was arraigned on charges of manufacturing, delivery and possession of a controlled substance, possession of heroin, illegal possession of a firearm, receiving stolen property and carrying a firearm without a license.
Thompson was released from the Westmoreland County Prison after posting $100,000 bail pending a preliminary hearing Aug. 7.
Trooper Anthony Arbaczewski reported that he saw Thompson’s Nissan headed eastbound off the turnpike toward Route 119 just after noon and noticed it had an expired inspection sticker and dark window tint.
After Thompson was stopped, the trooper said in court documents that he smelled an odor of marijuana coming from inside the car “and Thompson admitted smoking.”
Court documents said troopers searched the vehicle and discovered 2,500 individual stamp bags of heroin and a .45 caliber handgun hidden inside the roof liner of the car.
Arbaczewski said that Thompson has two prior felony convictions — for carrying a firearm without a license and for a drug delivery case — which prohibit him from possessing a firearm.
Thompson could not be reached. An attorney was not listed in court documents.
