Delmont man charged with weapon possession, fighting with police

A Delmont man is in jail after police said he fought with them and attempted to flee a traffic stop in Murrysville.

Murrysville police stopped a driver shortly before 11 p.m. on Oct. 11 on Harrison City Road near Brick Hill Road. The car was registered to Tristan R. Upole, 19, of Waynesburg, who police said had a warrant for his arrest from state police in Greensburg on gun charges. Police also said the vehicle had windows that were tinted beyond the legal limit.

Police smelled marijuana as they began speaking with Upole, according to a criminal complaint, and while he admitted that there was likely loose marijuana in the vehicle, would not allow police search it.

Police confirmed the active arrest warrant and took Upole into custody, then asked the vehicle’s passenger to step out of the car while they awaited a search warrant.

Police asked the passenger, James M. Crise, 18, of Delmont, if he had any weapons, to which he replied no, according to an affidavit.

“As Crise was exiting the vehicle, he had his left hand on his jacket near his chest, as if he was holding something against his body,” Murrysville Officer Jose Pantoja wrote in court documents. “I had to raise and lift his hands onto the roof of the vehicle but Crise kept his elbows tucked into his ribs and his body was tensing up more.”

Pantoja began a pat down, and immediately felt the butt of a gun in Crise’s waistband, police said. Crise reached toward his waistband as Pantoja alerted two other on-scene officers about the weapon, police said. Crise was taken to the ground but continued trying to reach for the gun.

Police said they stunned Crise multiple times with a Taser, to no effect. Despite being restrained by three officers, Crise managed to partially break free and started crawling on the ground, eventually getting to his feet and running toward a wooded area, according to court records. He was Tased again, taken down again, and arrested.

Police found a loaded Glock 29 10-millimeter handgun with an extended magazine in Crise’s waistband. The gun was reported stolen from the Pittsburgh area. The also found a Glock 26 9-millimeter handgun in his jacket pocket, registered to someone else, according to a criminal complaint.

Upole was charged with drug possession and related charges. Crise was charged with aggravated assault, evading arrest, resisting arrest and weapons charges. Both were unable to post bail and taken to the Westmoreland County Prison.

An attorney is not listed in court records for either Upole or Crise. Both will have an Oct. 28 preliminary hearing in District Judge Judi Petrush’s Export court.