An undercover drug buy this week in a Ligonier grocery store parking lot resulted in the arrest of an area couple, the confiscation of several ounces of marijuana, two handguns and about $2,600, township police said.
Shawn A. Hixson, 25, and Alexis A. Zello, 18, were arraigned on charges of possession of a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance and conspiracy filed by township police. Hixson also is charged with resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Police used a confidential informant to contact Zello to arrange to buy marijuana, and Zello directed the informant to be in the parking lot about 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sgt. James Friscarella reported in an affidavit.
Hixson arrived in a Ford Focus and completed the transaction with the informant, Friscarella reported. Friscarella alleged in court documents that Hixson resisted when he was placed under arrest, and police confiscated a handgun from his waistband.
Officers later searched the couple’s Giesey Road residence and recovered a digital drug scale, a marijuana grinder and cash from a safe in a bedroom.
Hixson was ordered held in the Westmoreland County Prison after failing to post $10,000 bail set by District Judge Anthony Bompiani of Hempfield. Zello was released on $1,500 recognizance bond.
credit:triblive.com