State police say they seized a handgun from a hidden safe and numerous bags of heroin and methamphetamine Monday from a Unity apartment.
Jerome W. Thorton II, 30, of Wilkinsburg, was arraigned on charges of illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, terroristic threats, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, reckless endangerment and several drug possession counts by state police after the search.
Trooper Tony J. Anthony reported multiple troopers responded to the Hostetter Hotel on the 1100 block of Murray Avenue in the village of Hostetter at 11:40 p.m. after a woman claimed that Thorton had forced a handgun into her mouth and threatened to shoot her.
When police arrived at his apartment in the hotel, Anthony said Thorton denied any wrongdoing “claiming he didn’t even own a gun.”
Anthony said in court documents that Thorton also invited troopers to search his room.
According to court documents, troopers located a small safe that was hidden and asked Thorton for the combination. Anthony said police found the handgun that matched the woman’s description inside and its manufacturer’s serial number was illegally altered.
Court documents said troopers also found “in open view” on a coffee table and dresser 50 plastic bags containing suspected methamphetamine and 20 stamp bags of suspected heroin.
Troopers also confiscated an electronic scale and a large marijuana smoking pipe, according to Anthony.
Thorton has an extensive criminal record in Allegheny County, including a felony robbery conviction that makes it illegal for him to possess a firearm, Anthony said. In 2008, Thorton pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to serve up to 36 months in prison and, in 2015, he pleaded guilty to burglary and robbery and was sentenced to serve 4 to 8 years in prison, according to court records.
He was ordered held in the county prison Tuesday after failing to post $25,000 bond.
