Man arrested on drug charges after found passed out in vehicle

From staff reports

A Cochranton man is facing charges after he was allegedly found in his vehicle in the Shop ‘n Save parking lot with methamphetamine and a firearm around 9 a.m. Thursday.

A criminal complaint filed through district judge Matthew Kirtland’s office said Franklin police were sent to the Shop ‘n Save parking lot for a report of a man passed out inside his vehicle.

Police observed the driver, later identified as 24-year-old Brandon Shields, and they also saw a marijuana smoking device located on the center console, the complaint said.

Police awakened Shields and arrested him for possession of drug paraphernalia. A further search of the vehicle turned up 7 grams of methamphetamine, a 12-gauge shotgun, three digital scales and related paraphernalia.

Shields is facing a felony count of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, three misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and 13 misdemeanor counts of use/possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was arraigned before Kirtland and placed in the Venango County jail on $30,000 bail.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled Wednesday in Central Court.