Police Identify Two Area Men Who Allegedly Provided Marijuana to Juvenile

SUGARCREEK BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) – Sugarcreek Borough Police have released the names of two area men who provided marijuana to a juvenile.

According to court documents, the Sugarcreek Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against 22-year-old Gavin Lee Carson, of Stoneboro, and 19-year-old Gavin Tanner Bishop, of Franklin, in Magisterial District Judge Andrew F. Fish’s office on Friday, January 20.

Sugarcreek Borough Police were dispatched to Miller Sibley in Sugarcreek Borough, Venango County, around 2:51 p.m. on Friday, December 16, for the report of an individual destroying a security camera, according to a criminal complaint.

It was learned the above-mentioned individual entered a red car and was seen parked near the pool building on Spruce Street. Officers located the red vehicle, a Honda Accord. Officers made contact with the three occupants of the vehicle. They were advised of the nature of why police were there. The backseat passenger (a known juvenile) made the statement that he was messing around, and that is why he broke the camera, the complaint indicates.

The vehicle was noted by two officers to have a strong odor of burnt marijuana coming from inside the car, the complaint notes.

The known juvenile exited the vehicle and was taken into custody.

According to the complaint, a statement was made that the vehicle smelled of burnt marijuana, and the juvenile stated that he had “ditched a bag in the back seat.” The juvenile later recanted his statement, the complaint notes.

The driver allegedly stated that he knew the juvenile to be smoking. Both the driver and front-seat passenger were noted to have outward signs of impairment. An officer looked in the back seat where the juvenile stated that he had “ditched the weed.” Upon moving a coat, a white cardboard box with the text “my box do not touch” fell onto the back seat. The box was not secured and landed open. Inside, there were three dabs containers, a pic, and a smoking pipe, and there was THC wax in multiple locations on the inside of the box, the complaint states.

The complaint notes in the center console cup holder area was what appeared to be a blunt pushed partially into a soda can.

According to the complaint, the front-seat passenger, later identified as Gavin Bishop exited the vehicle and moved to the front of the car. The driver, later identified as Gavin Carson, exited the vehicle via the passenger side. The driver stated that he had been in an accident earlier that day, and the driver’s side door did not work. An officer then turned the vehicle off. At that time, an officer advised the occupants of the vehicle that police would be securing the vehicle pending a search warrant.

The driver, Gavin Carson, continued to have the odor of marijuana about his person. It was also noted that he had a lackadaisical nature to his movements and was laughing at times that were not appropriate. After securing the juvenile for later transport home, officers spoke with Carson and advised him that he had noted outward signs of impairment like he had been smoking marijuana. Carson shrugged his shoulders and nodded yes, according to the complaint.

Carson then performed a series of field sobriety tests. He was advised that he was being placed under arrest for suspicion of DUI. Carson stated that he had thought he did well on the tests and that he should be free to go. He was placed in handcuffs and into a patrol vehicle without incident, the complaint indicates.

During the investigation, the vehicle was impounded pending a search warrant. During a search of the vehicle, a blunt with marijuana was found partially sticking out of a soda can. The blunt was later tested and found to contain marijuana, the complaint notes.

Due to the items noted in the vehicle, the decision was made to impound the vehicle pending a search warrant. Lowry’s came to the location, picked up the vehicle and a police unit followed it back to the station where it was secured. Signs were placed on the vehicle stating, “don’t touch evidence getting (a) search warrant,” at which time the vehicle was verified to be secure, according to the complaint.

An officer then transported the known juvenile back to his residence and was released into the custody of his grandmother.

The officer returned to the station and rode with the other police unit to UPMC. They were met at the hospital by a UPMC security guard and a phlebotomist. Two vials of blood were drawn from Gavin Carson’s left arm, the complaint indicates.

The complaint described that a search warrant was granted for the vehicle driven by Gavin Carson on December 19. Items recovered were a Philly blunt, a black insulated bag containing two baggies of marijuana totaling 15.8 grams, one bag of Backwood Banana clear pouch with a blunt and loose tobacco, two small bags containing Gator Breath marijuana, and a cannabis flower pouch. The blunt that was in the center console was tested and showed a positive result for marijuana, the complaint states.

Sugarcreek Borough Police Chief later received the video footage from Miller Sibley of the criminal mischief. The video showed that Gavin Carson, Gavin Bishop, and the juvenile were seen smoking the Philly blunt after pulling up and exiting the vehicle, the complaint states.

The blood results for Carson were returned by the lab on January 9. The report indicated that he operated a motor vehicle with 11-Hydroxy Delta-9 THC at 3.4 /- 1.0 ng/ml, Delta-9 Carboxy THC at 70 /- 22 ng/mL, and Delta-9 THC at 19 /- 6 ng/mL, according to the complaint.

Carson faces the following charges:

• Corruption of a Minor, Misdemeanor 1
• Driving Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance, Misdemeanor
• Possession of a Controlled Substance, Misdemeanor
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor

Bishop faces the following charge:

• Corruption of a Minor, Misdemeanor 1

Preliminary hearings for Carson and Bishop are scheduled for Wednesday, February 22, at 8:30 a.m., in front of Magisterial District Judge Andrew F. Fish.

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