Home News Crime & Punishment Cops Stumble Onto Slippery Rock Township Drug Deal

Cops Stumble Onto Slippery Rock Township Drug Deal

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Nancy Hinchberger
Nancy Hinchberger

Good police work and a little luck led to the arrests of a suspected New Castle drug dealer and a Butler County woman wanted on multiple warrants, authorities said.

Dennis J. Reid, 42, is free on $100,000 bail and Nancy Ann Hinchberger, 51, is in Butler County Prison.

State police arrested the pair Friday afternoon after troopers stumbled upon what they say was a planned drug deal in Slippery Rock Township, near the Lawrence-Butler County line.

Police said that earlier in the week they had been looking for Hinchberger, who was wanted on three arrest warrants and at least three bench warrants, all in Butler County.

About 11:45 a.m. Friday authorities got a tip that she was at a business in the company of a man, later identified as Timothy Watterson, 57, of Rural Valley, Armstrong County.

But when troopers got there the pair were already gone. They were seen leaving in a red Dodge Ram pickup.

Nearly five hours later, according to a police report, an officer was driving near Old Route 422 and Route 422 in Slippery Rock Township when he happened to spot the same pickup parked at the intersection.

The officer recognized Hinchberger, who was in the passenger seat, from a previous arrest.

She and Watterson apparently recognized the officer’s unmarked car and drove away. But police followed them to a nearby motorcycle dealership.

Police went inside the cycle shop and arrested Hinchberger. She resisted, the report said, and had to be taken to the ground and handcuffed.

She later admitted to police that she had just “ordered up” cocaine and was waiting at the intersection for her dealer, the report said.

Watterson, who was driving the pickup, acknowledged that he had been taking her around in her search for drugs, police said.

He also allegedly told police that he had drugs in his truck.

A search of the truck turned up several crack pipes, methamphetamine pipes and other contraband — along with about 200 pills for which neither Hinchberger nor Watterson had prescriptions.

Dennis Reid
Dennis Reid

Troopers, meanwhile, waited for Hinchberger’s alleged drug dealer, who was unaware that she was in police custody. Reid showed up and was immediately arrested.

Police searched him and his rental vehicle and found several thousands of dollars as well as suspected crack cocaine and several cell phones.

He was arraigned on a felony charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and misdemeanor charge of possession on a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.

He was placed in Lawrence County Jail before he was bailed out. Hinchberger was jailed in Butler County on the assorted warrants.

She was later arraigned on the arrest warrants for charges including drug trafficking and possession, false identification to police and obstructing the administration of law.

She was given combined bail of $45,000.

Police said they plan to charge her with resisting arrest and possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia in connection with Friday’s incident.

Watterson was allowed to leave after making arrangements for a ride home. But he, too, faces pending charges of possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, and driving with a suspended license.