From staff reports
A Cochranton man is facing charges after he was allegedly found in his vehicle in the Shop ‘n Save parking lot with methamphetamine and a firearm around 9 a.m. Thursday.
A criminal complaint filed through district judge Matthew Kirtland’s office said Franklin police were sent to the Shop ‘n Save parking lot for a report of a man passed out inside his vehicle.
Police observed the driver, later identified as 24-year-old Brandon Shields, and they also saw a marijuana smoking device located on the center console, the complaint said.
Police awakened Shields and arrested him for possession of drug paraphernalia. A further search of the vehicle turned up 7 grams of methamphetamine, a 12-gauge shotgun, three digital scales and related paraphernalia.
Shields is facing a felony count of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, three misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and 13 misdemeanor counts of use/possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was arraigned before Kirtland and placed in the Venango County jail on $30,000 bail.
A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled Wednesday in Central Court.
