Local News

Harrisburg pair arrested for drugs

Johnson, Griffin found with nearly 100 grams of crack cocaine

Two Harrisburg men are accused of trafficking narcotics into Altoona after a traffic stop Tuesday led to officers discovering nearly 100 grams of crack cocaine.

Gregory Craig Joseph Johnson and James Ryles Griffin, both 52, were arraigned on identical charges of single felony counts of possession with intent to deliver and conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver, as well as misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. They are being held at the Blair County Prison in lieu of bail. Johnson's bail was set at $400,000, while Griffin's was set at $250,000.

Altoona police learned in June 2026 that Johnson was operating a black Dodge Durango bearing Oregon registration to make regular trips from Harrisburg to the city. Upon arriving in Altoona, Johnson would only remain in the area for a few hours before returning to Harrisburg, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Officers noted that Johnson was arrested in 2016 for possession with intent to deliver. During that investigation, a controlled purchase was conducted, with the buy money and cocaine later located on his person, the police report states.

Officers conducted a traffic stop on Johnson after he arrived in the city from Harrisburg on Tuesday. When they approached the vehicle, they saw that Johnson was operating the Durango while Griffin rode in the front passenger seat. Officers reported being familiar with Griffin, as he had been a passenger in a vehicle stopped June 16. During that stop, officers seized about 21 grams of methamphetamine and 80 stamp bags of fentanyl from a different passenger, the report states.

On Tuesday, Johnson was described as being immediately verbally aggressive with officers, saying "y'all (are going to) stop harassing me because I'm about to do something bad to y'all." Officers requested additional units respond to the stop, then asked Griffin for his identification. Johnson spoke for Griffin, telling officers that Griffin was just a passenger and was not going to identify himself, the report states.

Upon arrival of additional officers, both men were ordered out of the vehicle. Officers then deployed K-9 Officer Blue to perform an open-air sniff of the vehicle. Blue alerted officers to the presence of narcotics at the front driver's side door. A search of the vehicle and both Johnson and Griffin yielded 99 grams of crack cocaine, two broken ecstasy pills, four cellphones and about $555 in cash, according to the affidavit.

Griffin and Johnson are scheduled for preliminary hearings July 22 and 29, respectively, in front of Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio.