Pittsburgh, PA (PPP)— On March 19th, a police officer was patrolling the Homewood South neighborhood in Pittsburgh when they observed a gray Hyundai SUV traveling on N Richland St.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Magisterial District Court, the vehicle failed to use a turn signal within 100 feet of making a turn, which prompted the officer to conduct a traffic stop. Two back seat passengers briefly exited the vehicle but complied with the officer’s order to return to the vehicle.

Another officer arrived on the scene and attempted to identify the driver, who provided a name that could not be found in the NCIC system. The driver was removed from the vehicle and detained for further investigation of their identity. During a search of the vehicle, the officer observed a “blunt” in the center console, according to the complaint.

The driver was read their Miranda Warnings and informed of the marijuana in plain view. The driver provided a different name and advised the officer that they may have a warrant for their arrest. The warrant was confirmed, and the driver was transported to the Allegheny County Jail, according to the complaint.

The other passengers were identified and removed from the vehicle due to the marijuana in plain view, according to the complaint.

One passenger was detained and searched, and a designer bag of marijuana was located in their jacket pocket. The owner of the vehicle was also on the scene and granted consent for a search of her motor vehicle. During the search, a black firearm was located underneath the front passenger seat. The passenger denied ownership of the firearm, which was in a location that would be difficult for anyone other than the driver or front seat passenger to access, according to the complaint.

Both the driver and the passenger were charged with illegally possessing a firearm, according to the complaint.

Name: Deondray Grier
Gender: Male
Age: 24

Agency: Pittsburgh Police Department

Court: Magisterial District Court 05-0-03
Docket Number: MJ-05003-CR-0001535-2023
Date Filed: March 19, 2023

Bail: $5,000
Confinement: Allegheny County Jail
Confinement Reason: Unable to post bail. Note: bail was posted the same day by Liberty Bail Bonds.

Criminal Charges

1. Carrying firearm without a license (Felony 3)
2. Prohibited acts (Misdemeanor)
3. Prohibited acts (Misdemeanor)

Affidavit of Probable Cause

On 03-19-2023 around 0100 hrs I, Officer Young was on patrol of the Homewood South neighborhood In the City of Pittsburgh. I was traveling on Alsace Way when I observed a gray Hyundai SUV bearing PA registration ███████ traveling on N Richland St. When this vehicle approached the intersection of N Richland St/Finance St it failed to use a turn signal within 100 feet of making the turn from N Richland onto Finance. I then followed this vehicle where it failed to utilize a turn signal within 100 feet of another turn while turning from Durango Way onto Susquehanna St.

Due to my observations of the vehicle failing to property signal it’s turns I activated my emergency lights and sirens to conduct a traffic stop at the intersection of Susquehanna St./Brushton Ave. The vehicle pulled over to the curb immediately and the two back seat passengers exited the vehicle. I ordered both passengers back into the vehicle in which they complied. My partner Officer Abbondanza arrived on scene and approached the driver of the vehicle while I approached the passenger. While speaking with the passenger of the vehicle I observed a “blunt” in the center console.

Officer Abbondanza attempted to identify the driver of the vehicle who identified himself as John Bey. Officer Abbondanza attempted a search of NCIC for the name and date of birth Bey provided to him and no results populated. Officer Abbondanza notified me of his findings, the driver was then removed from the vehicle and detained in handcuffs for further investigation of his identity. Officer Abbondanza read the driver his Miranda Warnings, then advised him of the marijuana in plain view. Officer Abbondanza also informed, the male that the identity he provided to him was not found and advised him that he was under official investigation and that he had to provide his information to us. The male then stated that he has two government names and provided Officer Abbondanza with his real name, John Jeffries. Jeffries advised Officer Abbondanza that he may have a warrant for his arrest. Jeffries was confirmed to have a warrant under OTN: G 944810-1.

I then identified the rest of the passengers of the motor vehicle. The front seat passenger was identified as Deondray Grier, the back seat passengers were identified as ███████ and ███████. All the passengers were removed from the motor vehicle due to the marijuana in plain view. Grier was detained in handcuffs due to his immediate access to the marijuana. Grier was searched incident to arrest where a designer bag of marijuana was located in his right jacket pocket. Due to the cold temperature outside. Grier asked to sit in the back of a patrol vehicle during the course of the investigation.

The owner of the vehicle then exited her residence and was identified as ███████. I explained to ███████ that we observed marijuana in the vehicle. Due to ███████ being the registered owner of the vehicle and on scene I explained to her the difference between a consent search and the application for a search warrant for her motor vehicle. ███████ granted me consent to search her motor vehicle.

During the search of the motor vehicle, I located a black Ruger firearm underneath the front passenger seat. The firearm slide was pressed against the center console of the vehicle with the barrel facing the back seat. The handle of the firearm was directly under the front portion of the front passenger seat. Due to the location of the firearm, it would be extremely difficult for anyone to access this firearm other than the driver or front seat passenger of the motor vehicle. The firearms serial number was entered into NCIC where it was found to not be stolen and no record of ownership. The marijuana in the cigar wrap that I initially observed was recovered from the cup holder and a designer bag of marijuana was located in the center console.

I then entered Grier’s information into NCIC to search for a valid conceal carry permit. The records showed that he did not possess a conceal carry permit. Officer Abbondanza then read Grier his Miranda Warnings and we spoke with him about the firearm located underneath his seat. Grier stated that he did not possess a conceal carry permit and that he has no knowledge of a firearm being in the vehicle. We then spoke with Jeffries about the firearm in the vehicle and he stated that he had no knowledge of any firearms being in the vehicle. Due to both males being the only ones with immediate access to the firearm and neither male claiming ownership of the firearm, both will be charged accordingly.

Officer Abbondanza transported Jeffries to the Allegheny County Jail without incident. While transporting Grier to the Allegheny County Jail I advised him that any narcotics that he smuggles into the jail will constitute a felony. Grier informed me that he had another small bag of marijuana in his jacket. At the jail I recovered a small, knotted bag of marijuana from his breast pocket. Both males were then accepted without incident.

Due to Jeffries acknowledging to Officer Abbondanza that he had a warrant while having access to a firearm would put him in violation of the Pennsylvania Crime Code, 6105 C1 and will be charged accordingly.

This arrest clears OTN: G 914810-1.