2 men arrested during SWAT raid at New Kensington home

Two men who are awaiting trial on drug charges were accused of making and selling crack cocaine at a New Kensington home raided by a SWAT team Tuesday morning.

Police charged the homeowner, Andrew Michael “Sly” Slywczuk, 39, of the 400 block of Charles Avenue, with two felony counts of possession of drugs with the intent to deliver and conspiracy to sell drugs, along with seven counts of drug possession.

He was being detained in the Westmoreland County jail in lieu of a $50,000 cash bond to await a preliminary hearing before District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. on Nov. 30.

Police also charged Christopher James “Cheese” McClinton, 28, who told police he had been living at the home for several weeks, with three felony counts of possession of drugs with the intent to deliver and conspiracy, along with three counts of drug possession.

McClinton, who previously lived on East Eighth Avenue in Tarentum, was released from custody on a $20,000 unsecured bond. His preliminary hearing before Pallone also is scheduled for Nov. 30.

Detectives from the New Kensington Police Department and the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office, as well as members of the county’s SWAT team, raided the house about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday after getting a search warrant, according to a criminal complaint.

Police announced the raid over a PA speaker and detained five people who were trying to flee, the complaint said. A French bulldog that was found outside was secured in a police vehicle.

An officer stationed at the back of the house said a pistol was tossed out of a second-floor window and landed on the porch roof as officers went inside, the complaint said. The gun was reported stolen out of Butler, police said.

A man who had an empty gun holster tucked into his waistband and a knife in his pocket was detained after police found him hiding under garbage bags in the attic, the complaint said.

Another pistol along with ammunition were found in a bedroom, police said.

Two women surrendered after briefly barricading themselves in an upstairs bedroom during the raid, police said.

A baggie with an ounce of crack cocaine was found inside a basement sewer drain, and an ounce of powdered cocaine was found inside a salt shaker in the kitchen, the complaint said.

During the search, police said, they found a scale with drug residue, glass pipes used to smoke crack, THC vape cartridges and various types of drug paraphernalia.

Previous charges

Court records show that Slywczuk is awaiting trial in Westmoreland County Court for three felony and three misdemeanor drug charges filed by New Kensington police in August 2022.

He also is awaiting trial in Westmoreland County for two DUI and two drug possession charges filed in July 2022 by Lower Burrell police.

Slywczuk also has been ordered to stand trial for two drug possession charges filed by Vandergrift police in August 2022, court records show.

In 2013, Slywczuk pleaded guilty in Westmoreland County to a felony drug charge and two counts of DUI filed by Penn Township police. He was sentenced to six months to a year in jail.

He also pleaded guilty to a drug charge in Butler County in 2016.

In 2008, Slywczuk pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of carrying a firearm without a license, filed by White Oak police.

• Court records show McClinton is awaiting trial in Westmoreland County for four felony gun and drug charges filed in August 2022 by New Kensington police. The trial is scheduled to start Dec. 4, court records show.

In 2018, McClinton pleaded guilty in Westmoreland County to two felony drug charges filed by the county sheriff’s office. He was sentenced to two to four years in jail, according to court records.

In 2017, state police in Greensburg charged McClinton with a felony drug possession charge. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two to four years in jail.