Crime & Safety

Moon Man Charged with Crack Cocaine Possession on Old Thorn Run Road

Police jail him after pulling him over in traffic stop.

A Moon man was charged with drug possession Saturday after police found him carrying crack cocaine and more than $3,000 in his jeans on Old Thorn Run Road.

John Lee Raines, Jr., 56, was also charged with intent to sell after police pulled him over during a traffic stop at about 1 a.m. had previously obtained a warrant for his arrest on Feb. 7 after finding 4 grams of crack cocaine in his vehicle.

On Feb. 7, Officer Ian Lucas cited Raines for driving under a suspended license during a traffic stop on Hemlock Drive. After Raines left with his wife, Lucas said he noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from Raines’ vehicle. The vehicle was towed and taken to the Moon Police station, where police obtained a warrant to conduct a search of the car.

Police issued a warrant for Raines’ arrest after discovering a pipe with burned ends and 4 grams of crack cocaine in a clear plastic bag in the back seat of the vehicle. The drug search was conducted with the assistance of the Allegheny County Police K-9 unit.

On Saturday, Raines was pulled over again, this time on Old Thorn Run Road. Police found him in possession of “two large chunks of crack wrapped in a clear-knotted plastic bag” and $3,810 in the right front pocket of his jeans. 

Raines was arrested and taken to the Allegheny County Jail.


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