North Buffalo police say stolen gun, crack found in SUV pulled over for window tint, wide wheels

North Buffalo police accused a man of having a stolen gun and crack cocaine in the SUV he was driving, after he invited police to search the vehicle during a traffic stop.

Jeffery Glenn Westwood, 57, of the 300 block of Garfield Street in Kittanning was charged with felony counts of receiving stolen property, carrying a gun without a license and possession of drugs with the intent to deliver, along with eight related drug counts and a citation for driving with a suspended license in connection with the July 1 traffic stop.

Westwood was being detained in the Armstrong County Jail in lieu of a $20,000 cash bond. A preliminary hearing before District Judge J. Gary DeComo is scheduled for Tuesday.

A North Buffalo police officer wrote in a criminal complaint that he was traveling along Pony Farm Road about 7:40 p.m. June 30 when he got behind a black Cadillac Escalade driven by Westwood, whose license was suspended for driving under the influence.

The rear wheels of the vehicle stuck out about 6 inches beyond the fender wells and all of the windows were heavily tinted, the complaint said.

Police said Westwood had an insurance card for the SUV but no registration or driver’s license, the complaint said.

He told the officer he was aware that the rear wheels were illegal and said he was going to get tools to make repairs, the complaint said.

Police told Westwood to make arrangements to have the SUV picked up from the scene because his license was suspended and he would not be allowed to drive.

Westwood questioned the officer about the level of tint on the windows, which he said was legal, the complaint said.

Police said they could use a meter to check the tint level and Westwood asked that the test be performed, according to the complaint.

Before checking the tint, the officer asked Westwood if there were any drugs or guns in the car and he told them no. Westwood then told police they could search the whole vehicle “if you want,” the complaint said.

Police said a black pistol was spotted between the gas pedal and center console as soon as Westwood opened the door for the search.

Westwood told police the gun belonged to his brother, but when the serial number on the Glock 9 mm they found was checked, they learned it had been reported stolen out of Manor Township, the complaint said.

Police said Westwood again told them there was nothing illegal in the car.

Officers said they found a flashlight in the SUV that had four baggies of suspected crack cocaine hidden inside.

The law requires a minimum of 70% of the light to pass through a vehicle’s window, according to the state Department of Motor Vehicles. The window tinting on the Cadillac that Westwood was driving only allowed 17% of light to pass through when police checked it with a meter, the complaint said.