Trio arrested after Altoona traffic stop
K-9 Blue marks milestone with 300th drug seizure
K-9 Blue conducted an open-air sniff during a traffic stop and alerted to the presence of narcotics/controlled substances. It was K-9 Blue’s 300th drug seizure while serving with the Altoona Police Department. Courtesy photo
Benning
Hoyt
Reeves
K-9 Blue conducted an open-air sniff during a traffic stop and alerted to the presence of narcotics/controlled substances. It was K-9 Blue’s 300th drug seizure while serving with the Altoona Police Department. Courtesy photo
Benning
Hoyt
Reeves
Trending
K-9 Blue marked a significant milestone this week as his open-air sniff during a vehicle stop resulted in his 300th drug seizure while serving with the Altoona Police Department.
According to Altoona police, the department's Narcotics Division made three arrests after an investigation into drug activity that began Wednesday when police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Hope Benning, 51, of Duncansville.
Officers conducting surveillance of suspected drug activity on the 1100 block of 14th Avenue stopped Benning's Chevrolet Silverado after observing traffic violations and furtive movement inside the vehicle.
K-9 Blue conducted an open-air sniff and alerted to the odor of narcotics/controlled substances, police reported. The vehicle was secured while police sought and received a search warrant.
During a search of the vehicle, police recovered a stolen Bryco Arms .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol, methamphetamine, a digital scale with suspected methamphetamine residue, drug packaging materials, drug paraphernalia and $877 cash.
Benning, during an interview with police, admitted to purchasing the firearm for $30 from Clarissa Hoyt, 36, of Altoona.
Police then secured an arrest warrant for Hoyt, who was taken into custody on Thursday. During an interview with police, Hoyt said she got the gun from Cody Reeves, 33, of Altoona, in exchange for about 100 Gabapentin pills and a Bluetooth speaker.
An arrest warrant was obtained for Reeves, who was later located as a passenger during a vehicle stop, where he was taken into custody.
Benning has been charged with felony counts of possessing a firearm without a license and receiving stolen property, along with misdemeanor firearm and drug charges and a summary traffic violation for a turn signal violation. She was released on $50,000 unsecured bail.
Hoyt has been charged with a felony count of receiving stolen property and a misdemeanor firearm charge. She was remanded to the Blair County Prison on a $50,000 straight/parole detainer.
Reeves has been charged with felony counts of possession of a firearm prohibited and receiving stolen property, along with a misdemeanor firearms charge. He was remanded to the Blair County Prison, unable to pay $50,000 bail.
Hoyt and Reeves face preliminary hearings before Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio on Oct. 28. Benning's preliminary hearing is set for
Nov. 4 before DeAntonio.