Cops find needles, drug paraphernalia

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Police charged three people Sunday after finding several needles and other drug paraphernalia during two separate traffic stops on the South Side.

About 8:35 p.m., officer Mark Sember spotted a car driven by Joseph Gainsley, 52, of North Perry Highway in Mercer, Pa., fail to signal for a turn and he pulled it over at Williamson Avenue and Market Street.

Reports said Gainsley and his passenger, Victoria Houghtaling, 25, also of North Perry Highway, both had expired driver’s licenses from Pennsylvania. Reports said Gainsley told Sember there was nothing illegal in his car when he was asked, and he granted permission to search it.

Police found a bag inside a backpack that had seven needles inside, a burnt spoon, a dose of suspected heroin wrapped up in a piece of paper and other items that can be used for drugs.

Houghtaling had a burnt spoon and a needle on her when she was searched, reports said.

Also inside the car, police found several pieces of suspected crack cocaine on the floor where Gainsley was seated. He was taken into custody on charges of possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of drug-abuse instruments and transported to the Mahoning County jail. He was arraigned in municipal court Monday before Judge Robert Milich. His bond was set at $10,000.

Houghtaling was taken to the jail on charges of possession of drug-abuse instruments and possession of drug paraphernalia but later was released after she was booked.

About 11:35 a.m., reports said, police found two needles, two spoons and a crack pipe on Karissa Kulcsar, 31, of Oregon Avenue. She was a passenger in a car spotted backing into a South Avenue gas station by officer George Anderson. Reports said Anderson went to investigate because he saw Kulcsar and the driver, who was not identified in police reports, acting suspiciously in the front of the car, and the area is known for drug activity.

Kulcsar gave police a false name and said she did so because she has active warrants, reports said. A records check revealed two warrants from 2015 and two from 2011, all from municipal court, reports said.

Kulcsar was booked into the jail on charges of possession of a drug-abuse instrument, possession of drug paraphernalia and obstructing official business. Her bond was set at $10,000.