A 23-year-old Tyrone woman, Lindsey Nichole Wills was arrested on drug charges stemming from an incident that happened in the borough on Aug. 14.
Shortly after 6:30 p.m., a Tyrone Police officer received information from a highway department worker that a person was laying in a truck in the American Legion parking lot. It was also reported the person had walked beside a trailer in the lot and disposed of something.
Officer Jessica Barlick investigated the registration information on the truck. She then observed a bag moving in front of the vehicle. She observed the bag moved down in front of three cars.
Barlick saw an individual holding the bag hiding in front of the vehicle. The officer got out of her cruiser and Wills started running. In a criminal complaint filed against Wills, Barlick said she identified the woman and knew there were warrants out against her.
Barlick cornered Wills on the ledge of a cement wall. Wills was advised to stop but instead she jumped over the wall. Barlick said she ran across the road and again advised Wills to stop. However, she continued running into a storm sewer.
Barlick waited for additional help and proceeded into the sewer. While Barlick began her search, another officer was waiting at an end of a tunnel located behind the Blazing Arrow Hook and Ladder Co.
After being told the tunnel had snakes, rats and sink holes and difficult places to maneuver, a decision was made for the officers to exit the tunnel for safety reasons.
Officer Barlick notified the fire departments after Wills had not exited the tunnel after spending about 30 minutes inside of it. Members of the Hookies started into the sewer at their station and the Neptune Fire Company started into the storm sewer at Soldier’s Field.
The fire company advised officers that they found drug paraphernalia in the tunnel. Shortly after 7:30 p.m., fire company officials notified police that Wills had been apprehended.
Wills was taken out through a manhole at Blair Avenue and Cottage Street and taken to the Tyrone Police Department’s station.
In the criminal complaint obtained by The Daily Herald, Barlick said Wills admitted to her and Chief Joseph Beachem that seven hypodermic syringes, the spoon and four packets of heroin found in the storm sewer belonged to her. She was arrested on drug possession and paraphernalia charges.
The search and rescue for Wills cost the two fire companies a total of $700.
Magisterial District Judge Fred Miller said a preliminary hearing for Wills is scheduled for Sept. 6 at his office.
