A Franklin man is facing drug and firearms charges after a three vehicle-crash Monday in Sugarcreek Borough.
Sugarcreek police, in a criminal complaint, said they were called to the 2300 block of Rocky Grove Avenue at about 9:30 a.m. for the crash, which they found was caused when Paul Deal, 39, was driving on the wrong side of the road while under the influence of drugs.
The drivers of the other two vehicles maneuvered to avoid a head-on collision with Deal’s vehicle, the complaint said.
Based on the totality of the circumstances, Deal was placed under arrest and police found a smoking pipe in his pocket and a wallet “so full of U.S. currency that it would not remain folded on its own,” the complaint said.
When an officer said he believed Deal had a DUI suspended license, Deal agreed that he does, the complaint said.
Police placed Deal in the back of a patrol car and while they were continuing to investigate the crash, they continued to check on him because he was so intoxicated, the complaint said.
When an officer checked on Deal, he found Deal had consumed a large quantity of drugs to avoid charges, according to the complaint.
Police were unable to finish the crash investigation because they were busy administering Narcan to Deal to keep him alive until an ambulance arrived, the complaint said.
In all, Deal was given six doses of Narcan — four by police and two more at the hospital, the complaint said.
At about 5:30 p.m., after Deal was released from the hospital and transported to Sugarcreek police station, he told police he believed the owner of the vehicle he had crashed was in the hospital and another man who lives with the vehicle owner had given him permission to drive the vehicle, the complaint said.
Deal told police he had a “substantial amount of meth” in the vehicle, the complaint said.
In the vehicle police found two firearms, scales, smoking devices and a large amount of packaging material for packaging drugs, the complaint said.
The complaint notes Deal is a felon not to possess a gun.
Deal has been charged with two felony counts of possession of firearm prohibited, two felony counts of firearms not to be carried without a license and a felony of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver as well as misdemeanor counts of DUI: controlled substance, make repairs/sell/etc offensive weapon, tamper with/fabricate physical evidence, BAC .02 or higher-3rd offense, use/possession of drug paraphernalia and a summary count of disregard traffic lane (single).
He was arraigned Friday before District Judge Patrick Lowrey and placed in the Venango County jail after being unable to post bail.
Deal’s preliminary hearing is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday before Lowrey.
