Glenshaw, PA (PPP)— 30-year-old John Albert Paustenbaugh was arrested in Shaler Police on charges of possession with intent to deliver, receiving stolen property, and multiple traffic offenses.

According to the police report, on March 15, 2023, officers observed Paustenbaugh, who was driving a gold Lexus SUV with a passenger, for several minutes before initiating a traffic stop. Paustenbaugh was found to have crossed over the white line while driving and displayed characteristics of a narcotic user, including enlarged pupils and slow speech.

Upon further investigation, police found an illegal stash of narcotics in the car, including 197 oxycodone hydrochloride pills, suspected powder cocaine, 20 empty stamp bags with residue, and 17 1/2 gold bars and 1/2 a white bar marked “R039” (Xanax). Paustenbaugh was also found in possession of $450 in cash. Police suspect that Paustenbaugh intended to sell the narcotics.

During the arrest, Paustenbaugh admitted to having prior warrants and having lied about his identity. He refused to give blood for testing but later agreed to a blood draw.

Paustenbaugh was transported to the Allegheny County Jail and denied bail.

Name: John Albert Paustenbaugh
Gender: Male
Age: 30

Agency: Shaler Police Department

Court: Magisterial District Court 05-2-03
Docket Number: MJ-05203-CR-0000125-2023
Date Filed: March 15, 2023

Bail: N/A
Confinement: Allegheny County Jail
Confinement Reason: Bail denied

Criminal Charges

1. Prohibited acts – Possession with intent to deliver, Felony
2. Prohibited acts – Possession with intent to deliver, Felony
3. Receiving stolen property, Misdemeanor 3
4. Prohibited acts – possession, Misdemeanor
5. Prohibited acts – possession, Misdemeanor
6. Prohibited acts – possession, Misdemeanor
7. Prohibited acts, Misdemeanor
8. Driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance, Misdemeanor
9. Driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked, Summary offense
10. Driving on roadways laned for traffic, Summary offense

Affidavit of Probable Cause
On Wednesday March 15, 2023 at approximately 0346 hours, Sgt. McBurney contacted me via phone in regards to an individual that my be under the influence of a alcohol or a controlled substance at the GetGo located at 1700 William Flynn Highway. Sgt. McBurney stated that the individual displayed numerous signs of a narcotic user and decided to observe the individual from an adjacent parking lot. Sgt. McBurney informed me that the individual had parked a gold Lexus SUV at a gas pump and that there was also a passenger in the vehicle. Sgt. McBurney observed the vehicle for several minutes (0346-0351) until Officer Spalick and I arrived in the area. Sgt. McBurney relayed to me that the individual had went to the vehicle and continued to sit in the vehicle but was not leaving. Sgt. McBurney then exited the adjacent parking lot and traveled Northbound on Rt. 8 when he alerted me that he observed the incident vehicle now exiting the parking lot, after he finally left.

I had a clear and unobstructed view of the intersection of William Flynn Highway and Butler Plank Rd. I observed the incident vehicle approach the intersection and stop at the red light. The incident vehicle then turned left onto William Flynn Highway but failed to utilize it’s left turn signal. I then proceeded to get behind the incident vehicle as it was traveling southbound. Between the 1600 block and 1300 block of William Flynn Highway I observed the incident vehicle, a 200 gold Lexus RX-300 bearing Pennsylvania registration ███████, make several quick adjustments from within the far right lane as if they were unable to control the motor vehicle in a single lane. Additionally, the incident vehicle was traveling approximately 50 MPH but then slowed down to approximately 40 MPH and at times under 40 MPH once I was directly behind the vehicle. In the 1400 block I observed the incident vehicle swerve from the right lane partially into the left lane with the driver side tires clearly crossing the white line. At this point based on my training and experience I believed the individual may be under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance which was rendering them incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle. I attempted to conduct a traffic utilizing my emergency lights and siren so the vehicle could safely pull into the parking lot of 1101 William Flynn Highway. The vehicle signaled to pull over however did not pull over until it reached 1070 William Flynn Highway. Officer Spalick and Sgt. McBurney were on scene as backup.

I made contact with the driver and informed him the reason for the stop to which he admitted to crossing over the white line. As I was speaking with the driver he displayed characteristics of a narcotic user. He had several open sores on his face, his clothes were disheveled, and his pupils were constantly enlarged pupils which did not constrict even when I would shine my light into his eyes. I asked the driver for his license, the registration and insurance. The driver provided me with a Pennsylvania drivers license for a ███████. It should be noted that the picture on the was a male with a visible tattoo under his right eye. The driver did not have a tattoo on his face. I then requested the driver to exit the vehicle which he complied. The driver, later positively identified as John Paustenbaugh II, stated that he was prior leaving GetGo that he and the passenger were leaving a friends house who lived on Sutter Road. Paustenbaugh explained that his friend halfway down Sutter Rd. and that they had left there just before they went to GetGo but did not give me a time. While I was speaking with Paustenbaugh he was stumbling and mumbling his words. Additionally, when I was questioning him about if he had previously been arrested and his narcotic usage Paustenbaugh could not look at me directly and answer the questions. Based on my training and experience in in 6 1/2 years of law enforcement along with conducting and assisting in 100’s of narcotic related investigations I believed that Paustenbaugh was being deceptive and was under the influence at the moment. Furthermore, when I inquired about Paustenbaugh’s driving actions he stated that he was attempting to light a cigarette which caused him to swerve however when I first approached the vehicle he was not smoking a cigarette.

I conducted an NCIC/PennDot search of the driver’s license Paustenbaugh provided me and noticed that the address was different than what Paustenbaugh provided me. I conducted an NCIC/PennDot search of the front seat passenger, ███████ which returned with a suspended license. I then put the license plate reader camera system to show the travel history of the vehicle. I learned that the vehicle had entered GetGo and remained there for 26 minutes prior to departing. I then observed that it had traveled northbound on. Mt. Royal Blvd from 0309 hours through 0311 hours before it entered GetGo at 0329 hours. I returned to speak with Paustenbaugh and return his documents and asked again how long he had been at his friends. Paustenbaugh stated that they were at his friends house for approximately 2-3 hours and arrived around midnight and admitted that he was the only one to drive the vehicle, which I was able to prove was a lie based on viewing the LPRs. I then went and spoke with ███████ who stated that they were at a friend’s house for “a little bit” further stating maybe half an hour. ███████ was also clearly under the influence of a controlled substance, he a slow speech and large pupils.

I read Paustenbaugh his Miranda Warnings which he stated he understood. I asked Paustenbaugh for his address and asked how long it’s been since he lived on ██████████████ (the street where the vehicle is registered to) and he responded a long time then asked if he could not answer any more questions and I advised him that I need his information for the traffic stop and he then admitted that he lives on ██████████████. Due to the conflicting stories and Paustenbaugh appearance of being under the influence of a narcotic or controlled substance, I asked if Paustenbaugh would be willing to give me consent to search his vehicle which he denied. I then requested for dispatch to locate a narcotic K-9 while I was going to attempt to do SFST’s on Paustenbaugh. I asked Paustenbaugh if he had any weapons on him which he stated that he didn’t. Based on Paustenbaugh already untruthfulness, I informed him I was going to conduct a pat down for weapons and felt an unusual object in the front right jean pocket. I asked Paustenbaugh if it was chap-stick when Paustenbaugh stated that it may be a knife. I then removed the object and observed a small plastic pill cylinder container full of white residue, consistent with powder cocaine. I then placed Paustenbaugh under arrest and searched him incident to arrest and recovered a marijuana vape in the front left jean pocket, a sealed 8mg sublingual film strip from his front left pocket, US currency from his front left pocket and from his rear right pocket. Paustenbaugh was placed in the rear of my patrol vehicle (21-8).

I went and spoke with ███████ again who gave me consent to search his person yielding negative results for weapons or narcotics. ███████ was the then placed in a patrol vehicle to stay warm due to the fact the temperature was in the teens. Officer Spalick located a Pennsylvania registration which was in the rear backseat void. Officer Spalick recovered the registration plate and conducted an NCIC search came back stolen out of the City of Pittsburgh.

I went back to speak with Paustenbaugh and informed him that I was towing his vehicle for a search warrant. Paustenbaugh continued to mumble and stutter and was speaking slower. I then advised Paustenbaugh that this was an official investigation and he must provide me his correct name and DOB when he responded, “lets just go to jail” and admitted to having warrants. He then provided me his correct name and DOB. An NCIC/PennDot search confirmed he had three active warrants and a suspended drivers license, DUI related. While Paustenbaugh was in the rear of my patrol vehicle he was falling asleep due to being under the influence of a narcotic. I then read Paustenbaugh the DL26-B form verbatim and requested Paustenbaugh to submit to a blood test. Paustenbaugh initially stated that he wanted to remain silent then I explained that he would be subject to the penalties listed above and considered him a refusal at 0445 hours after he decided he was not going to submit to a blood draw. Immediately after I announced that he was considered a refusal, Paustenbaugh stated that he was willing to give blood.

Officer Spalick and Caldone transported Paustenbaugh to AHN McCandless where I advised Officer Spalick to research Paustenbaugh due to having shorts on under his jeans. Officer Spalick conducted a second search and located a centrum adult pill bottle in Paustenbaugh’s left shorts pocket. Inside the pill bottle Officer Spalick recovered the following items:

• (20) empty stamp bags with residue
• white powder in a glassine bag with an unofficial weight of seven (7) grams,
• 197 round blue pills stamped “M” on one side and “30” on the other (oxycodone hydrochloride-drugs.com),
• 17 1/2 gold bars and 1/2 a white bar marked “R039” (Xanax).

Officer Spalick then contacted me of his findings at which point I requested that he seize the money ($450) and the two cell phones from Paustenbaugh. Officer Spalick also informed me that Paustenbaugh was again refusing to give blood. Additionally, Officer Spalick stated that Paustenbaugh was falling asleep standing up, could barley walk, had a hard time opening his eyes consistent with an individual under the influence of a narcotic. Paustenbaugh’s failure to appear warrants from Allegheny County and Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Offices were confirmed along with a bench warrant from Kittanning.

I transported the cylinder container full of white residue, the marijuana vape, the sealed 8mg sublingual film strip and the license plate and license to the station to be packaged. I will complete the PennDot seizure form and send the license plate back to PennDot along with the false drivers license Paustenbaugh originally provided me.

Sgt. McBurney remained with the vehicle until Critchlows arrived on scene to tow it to their secured tow lot with a hold on the vehicle pending a search warrant. Paustenbaugh was transported to the ACJ without incident by Officer Spalick. Officer Spalick then returned to the Shaler Police Station and assisted in packaging the evidence, which was secured in locker #2.

Based on my training and experience, I believe that Paustenbaugh possessed the 197 oxycodone hydrochloride and the suspected 7 grams of powder cocaine with intent to sell it. The 197 pills are far greater than what a typical individual would possess for personal use. Additionally, Paustenbaugh had $450 in US currency which consisted of 17 $20 bills, two (2) $5 bills and a $100 bill. I know that individuals who are involved with illegal narcotic sales will typically sell their products in a quantity that makes it easy for single bill transactions. Furthermore, during the traffic stop, Paustenbaugh indicated that he was not currently employed.

I will apply for a warrant for the two cell phones recovered from Paustenbaugh at a later date.