Arrests of two men cause partial lockdown of Canonsburg Middle School
Two men are in Washington County jail after they were taken into custody for separate incidents late morning Dec. 10 near Canonsburg Middle School that caused a brief, partial lockdown at the school.
Police said Robert Welling, 31, of 239 N. Central Ave., Canonsburg, was taken into custody with a stolen Glock handgun. He was placed in jail on a probation detainer. Jeremy Childers, 29, of 210 Pickwick Drive, Bethel Park, was taken into custody shortly before Welling. There was a warrant for his arrest in Allegheny County on drug charges.
Sgt. Don Cross said he and Officers Matthew Tharp and Louis Bailey set up surveillance because of known drug activity in the area.
Police first spotted Childers. They stopped and detained him.
Cross said Childers was carrying a bag containing women’s clothing with the tags still on the items. He allegedly told police an acquaintance would buy clothing with a credit card, then return the clothing for gift cards that, in turn, would be traded for drugs. Police said Childers was found with eight bags of suspected heroin and a needle.
The officers set up a second surveillance. They saw Welling leave his residence and stopped him.
They said he had the gun, which was not loaded. Cross said he also had seven fully loaded magazines containing a total of 84 bullets, as well as a needle and empty heroin stamp bags.
Cross said the owner of the gun, identified as the father of Welling’s girlfriend, had not reported the weapon stolen. He told police he did not realize it was stolen, and Welling took the gun out of his bedroom without his permission. Welling told police he intended to sell the gun in exchange for heroin.
Detective Sgt. Al Coghill said police had information Welling might have a gun when he left the house. The house was on North Central, just north of the middle school.
“There was some concern that he could take off running with a gun,” Coghill said. “At no time was anyone in danger.”
The school was in a partial lockdown for less than an hour, said Michael Daniels, superintendent of Canon-McMillan School District. During the lockdown, entry and exit of the building was not permitted, but classes for students and other indoor activities were not interrupted.
“We received excellent communication from the Canonsburg police department during the process and congratulate them for their efforts in maintaining public safety,” Daniels said.
Coghill commended the job done by the officers in getting a handgun off the street. North Strabane Township Officers Michael Lukanski and Dustin Koch assisted borough police.
Cross said charges against both Welling and Childers will be filed later. Welling faces charges including theft, possession of drug paraphernalia and carrying a firearm without a license. Childers will be charged with possession of heroin and paraphernalia. Cross said Childers could face more charges if police determine the clothing was stolen.