South Greensburg drug suspect found hiding behind attic door

The subject of a drug-related arrest warrant was found Friday by Westmoreland County sheriff’s deputies hiding behind an attic door in the closet of an East Huntingdon home, Sheriff James Albert said.

Donald Michael Young, 44, of South Greensburg was arraigned Monday on weapons and drug violations, in addition to child endangerment charges, stemming from an April search at his Broad Street home.

In a criminal complaint, investigators said they were tipped off about possible criminal activity at Young’s home and served a search warrant there April 5.

Police said they found ammunition, 551 stamp bags of heroin, 16 bags of marijuana and two pistols, according to court papers. Young was not permitted to have a firearm, and police said one of the guns appeared to have been subject to an attempt to scratch off its serial number.

Young and his girlfriend, Shanna B. Fletcher, 37, of East Huntingdon arrived at the home as police were searching. He allowed police to look at what he described as his “drug dealing cellphone,” according to court papers.

Charges stemming from the search were filed May 24, and the arrest warrant was handed over to sheriff’s deputies. Albert said deputies learned Young was at Fletcher’s home and, on Friday, she gave authorities false information when they arrived to arrest him.

Police found him inside the second-floor bedroom closet. Albert said the doorway was blocked by a clothing rack. Young was taken into custody with “considerable resistance,” Albert said. Fletcher was charged with hindering apprehension and is free on $10,000 unsecured bail. Her preliminary hearing is set for July 13.

Deputies also arrested a 17-year-old on a felony warrant related to a weapons violation.

Neither Young nor Fletcher had attorneys listed in online court records. Young was being held at Westmoreland County Prison on $10,000 bail, and a preliminary hearing is set for June 24.