Two arrested on heroin charges

Two Ohio residents were arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop on U.S. 22 at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Weirton Police Detective John Phillips reported the Weirton Police Patrol Division participated in the arrest using information provided by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department Narcotics Division in conjunction with the Weirton Street Crimes Unit.

According to Phillips, Farrah Francis Briganti, 31, of 118 Arch St., Amsterdam, Ohio, and James Gilbert Loterbaugh, 25, of 304 3rd St, Amsterdam, were pulled over by himself and Patrolman Jason Kazmirski while traveling westbound between the Three Springs Drive and Harmon Creek exits.

"We found 40 stamp bags of heroin in the vehicle," he said. "Farrah had two bags in her cell phone and the male had 38 in his pants."

Phillips noted information provided to the Weirton Police Department indicated Loterbaugh and Briganti had traveled to Pittsburgh to purchase drugs and were traveling along U.S. 22 through Weirton's jurisdiction.

Reports indicated Briganti was arrested for conspiracy to deliver, possess, transport heroin and transporting into West Virginia with the intent to deliver. Loterbaugh was arrested for possession with the intent to deliver heroin and conspiracy to deliver, possess and transport heroin. The vehicle used in the transportation of the drugs was seized.

According to Weirton Police Detective Ricky Grishkevich, both parties have previous drug convictions.

"We really have to give credit to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department Narcotics Division," Phillips said. "Without their information, these arrests probably wouldn't have been made."

Both parties are being housed in Northern Regional Jail and await arraignment by a Brooke County magistrate.

(Rossi can be contacted at grossi@weirtondailytimes.com)