By KARA O’NEIL
Staff writer
Oil City police chief Dave Ragon released more details Wednesday about the quantity of drugs and money found in a North Side home where police were called to a domestic dispute Monday that led to a standoff and the arrest of two people.
Ragon said police found about three pounds of marijuana and more than $18,000 in cash as well as drug paraphernalia and a small marijuana growing operation during their search of the home at 4 Forest Place off East Bissell Avenue.
Police also found three firearms — two pistols and an AR-style pistol — as well as a plastic ammo-style can containing a large amount of money.
Tessa Stewart, 21, told police she and Tyler Roberts, 20, had been involved in a dispute all of Sunday and into the early hours of Monday when she called police and they responded at about 1:45 a.m. Monday, Oil City police said in a criminal complaint.
Roberts had taken possession of Stewart’s firearms, which were inside the residence, and discharged a handgun in the house twice, the complaint said.
Stewart told police Roberts had a handgun concealed on him while they were inside her vehicle and again engaged in a verbal altercation, the complaint said. Roberts again brandished the weapon and shot it in the air outside the house after exiting the vehicle, according to the complaint.
When police arrived, they tried to make contact with Roberts via loudspeaker as well as by cell phone, but they were unable to, the complaint said.
Ragon summoned other police units, and Roberts eventually surrendered at about 10 a.m. Monday as soon as a state police BearCat armored vehicle rolled down the street. He was then taken into custody, Ragon said.
Roberts and Stewart are both facing numerous charges, and their preliminary hearings are scheduled for Wednesday in Venango County Central Court.
