Three arrested on drug charges in separate traffic stops

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Police arrested three people on felony drug charges Tuesday during three separate traffic stops.

Police pulled over a car at Lansdowne Boulevard and Parker Street about 3:50 p.m. for an improper turn and saw the passenger, James Valentin, 52, of Woodside Avenue, reaching around his body. Reports said an officer who walked up to the car saw part of a crack pipe sticking out of Valentin’s pants.

Valentin was ordered out of the car and police found the pipe and a bag of crack cocaine in his pants pocket when he was searched, reports said. He was taken to the Mahoning County jail on charges of possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Reports said the driver of the car, Valentin’s 77-year-old mother, was given a warning about the improper turn and let go.

About 4:40 p.m., officers pulled over a vehicle driven by Renee Brandt, 37, no address listed, at Midlothian Boulevard and Market Street after it was seen weaving in and out of traffic on Midlothian Boulevard without using a turn signal. Reports said when officers approached the vehicle, Brandt was crying and her hands were shaking. She was asked if she had anything illegal and she said no, but she became more nervous, reports said.

Reports said Brandt was placed in the back of a police car as officers were writing her a traffic citation as a dog was brought in to sniff the air around her vehicle and she kept putting her hands in her pockets. She was then taken out of the police car and searched and police found a bag of suspected heroin in her pocket, reports said. Inside her car, police found 12 pills in a plastic bag in her purse, reports said.

Brandt was taken to the jail on charges of possession of heroin and possession of drugs.

About 7:10 p.m., police pulled over a car at West Warren and Glenwood avenues for an improper turn, and one of the passengers, Steven Johnson, 27, of Blaine Street in Grove City, Pa., reached into his pockets, took out a plastic bag and tried to put it into the center console of the car, reports said. Johnson and two other people were asked to get out of the car so it could be searched, reports said. The bag Johnson had contained suspected heroin, and police also found a burnt spoon and used needle near where Johnson put the bag.

Johnson was taken to the jail on charges of possession of heroin, possession of drug-abuse instruments and possession of drug paraphernalia.