4 New Kensington children found sitting on couch near loaded gun during drug warrant search, police say
Authorities who forced their way into a New Kensington home during a drug investigation Friday morning found four children on a living room couch, and a loaded gun under it.
New Kensington police charged Jarrell George Miller, 38, of Haser Drive in East Ken Manor with four felony counts of child endangerment, a felony count of prohibited possession of a firearm, and felony and misdemeanor drug charges. He is being held in the Westmoreland County jail without bail.
Agents with the state Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and officers with the Westmoreland County Drug Task Force were investigating sales of fentanyl and cocaine from Miller’s address, according to court documents.
They breached the door after no one answered a knock shortly after 6 a.m., court papers state.
The ages of the children found inside were not given.
Police said a 9 mm pistol with a round chambered was found under the couch. The search also found 9 mm, .40-caliber and .45-caliber ammunition; two holsters; and more than $1,000 in cash.
Police said they found 10 grams of cocaine worth about $1,000 in Miller’s shorts pocket. A police dog indicated the presence of narcotics in Miller’s vehicle parked outside; it was impounded pending a search warrant, court papers show.
His preliminary hearing before New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. is scheduled for July 11.
Brian C. Rittmeyer is a TribLive reporter covering news in New Kensington, Arnold and Plum. A Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, Brian has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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