Off-duty Rostraver cop catches drug suspect at Sheetz

By Kaylie Moore
kmoore@yourmvi.com
A McKeesport man was arrested after being caught with drugs by an off-duty Rostraver Township cop.
Lance Elliot Robinson, 41, of Soles Street was arraigned Monday before Magisterial District Judge Charles Christner in Rostraver Township.
Robinson is charged with intent to possess a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and use or possession of drug paraphernalia.
Rostraver police responded just after 11 p.m. Sunday to an assistance request from off-duty Officer Martin Palla, an affidavit of probable cause states.
While waiting in line behind Robinson at the state Route 51 Sheetz, Palla allegedly smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from his person and saw a baggie of marijuana in plain view in his hoodie pocket, police said.
Palla identified himself as a police officer and had Robinson remove the marijuana from his pocket before arresting him and calling for backup, the affidavit states. Palla also allegedly found a small plastic baggie containing crack cocaine on the floor, which Robinson denied was his.
However, store surveillance video allegedly showed Robinson pulled the crack cocaine from his pocket and threw it on the ground when Palla requested the marijuana, police said.
Robinson remains in Westmoreland County Prison in lieu of $25,000 monetary bail.
He faces a preliminary hearing 10:30 a.m. Jan. 28 before Christner.