The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

July 25, 2012

Shooting charges withdrawn, but drug case will proceed

By Joe Pinchot Herald Staff Writer

FARRELL — Prosecutors on Wednesday withdrew charges against a suspect in a June shooting in Farrell, while unrelated drug charges against him were held for court.

Southwest Mercer County Regional police had alleged that Terrelle D. Jackson, 20, of 1430 Roemer Blvd., Farrell, shot Tommie L. Kitt in the left leg below the hip at 2:04 a.m. June 3 in the 800 block of Roemer Boulevard.

Assistant Mercer County District Attorney William J. Moder III withdrew charges of aggravated assault and carrying a firearm without a license for further investigation.

Moder said there were other people in the area at the time of the shooting and police will be attempting to interview them.

The charges can be refiled.

A previous preliminary hearing was continued because Kitt did not show up. Kitt was present Wednesday and advised of the withdrawal of charges, Moder said.

Police said Kitt walked outside a bar and encountered Jackson, who talked about robbing Kitt. Kitt confronted Jackson, argued with him and raised his hands to fight him when Jackson pulled out a gun, police said. Kitt turned away and Jackson shot him, police said.

A .45-caliber shell casing was found at the scene, police said.

Two days after the shooting, police arrested Jackson on drug charges after seeing him drive through a stop sign.

Patrolmen Jonathan M. Decarmen and David Moyer, who had just left another traffic stop, testified that they saw Jackson run the stop sign at 11:41 p.m. June 5 at Park Avenue and Idaho Street in Farrell, and stopped him in the 900 block of Park.

While Decarmen, at the driver’s window, talked to Jackson and obtained his identification, Moyer said he noticed that Jackson had put himself in an awkward position with his right shoulder toward the steering wheel and his right hand over the door of the center console that divides the front seats.

“It looked very awkward and suspicious in my mind,” Moyer said, adding that it appeared Jackson was trying to shield the area from Decarmen.

Both policemen testified they had never encountered Jackson before that night and were unaware of his potential involvement in the Kitt shooting.

Fearing Jackson might have a weapon, Moyer had Decarmen ask Jackson to step out. While Moyer stood with Jackson at the rear of the car, Decarmen checked the area around the driver’s area and found three bags in the center console, one containing 41 Endocet pills, one containing 40 OxyContin pills and the other containing half an ounce of marijuana.

Jackson did not have a prescription for Endocet or OxyContin, both narcotic painkillers, Decarmen said.

Police later found two cellular telephones in the car and $202 in Jackson’s waist band, Decarmen said

District Judge Ronald E. Antos, Farrell, held for court charges of drug possession, possession with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jackson has posted bond.

 

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