An early morning traffic stop led to the arrest of a convicted felon and the seizure of a handgun and about 10 pounds of marijuana, police said.
Jermaine "J.J." Morgan, 40, was arrested after police stopped a Chevrolet Trailblazer driven by his wife, Latasha Morgan, at 2:13 a.m. Sunday outside their 1449 Washington Ave. residence.
Latasha Tiffany Morgan was arrested on suspicion of DUI, Altoona police said. After her arrest, Latasha Morgan told officers her children were at home unsupervised.
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Evidence collected during the arrest of Jermaine and Latasha Morgan is displayed by the Altoona Police Department.
While conducting a welfare check of the residence, police detected the smell of marijuana and obtained a search warrant for the property.
Police seized $7,124 in cash from a locked safe and 10 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $20,000. A digital scale from the residence was also taken by police.
Police charged the pair with one charge each of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, manufacture, delivery or possession, and conspiracy to deliver.
During the initial traffic stop, police said Jermaine Morgan exited the vehicle's front passenger door and placed a Taurus .40-caliber handgun on the porch steps leading to his home. An empty gun holster and $1,058 in cash was discovered on his person while in police custody.
Police said Jermaine Morgan is not allowed to possess a firearm because of his criminal history - one that includes jail sentences related to a shooting incident at a Roman Catholic church festival in Altoona, a 1996 aggravated assault in State College and a 2007 reckless endangering conviction.
Jermaine Morgan was charged with possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of a firearm without a license, receiving stolen property and public drunkenness.
The Taurus .40 caliber handgun recovered outside the Morgan residence was originally reported stolen to police in 2011.
Latasha Morgan was released on $50,000 unsecured bail, police said.
Jermaine Morgan was jailed in Blair County Prison in lieu of $25,000 cash bail for the firearm charges and $50,000 cash bail for the related drug offenses, police said.
Their preliminary hearings are scheduled for 9 a.m. Dec. 19 in central court.
Mirror Staff Writer Zach Geiger is at 946-7535.
