A Trenton woman was arraigned Tuesday on charges she was engaging in drugs and prostitution.
On Tuesday November 4, shortly after 2 a.m., Falls Township police responded to the area of Wellington Woods Apartments at 1 Sweetbriar Road in Morrisville for two separate reports that a woman was screaming before being forced into a white SUV by an unknown male.
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Shortly after, police conducted a traffic stop on a white Toyota Rav 4 SUV, where 26-year-old Sara Cornell confirmed she was involved in an argument outside the apartments with the male driver, Jeffrey Burtis, 52. Burtis advised police that he had “picked up [Cornell] in the Trenton area because he is a guy and has needs”, according to court documents.
While police spoke with Burtis, they noticed a rubber band, consistent with what is used to bundle heroin, on the vehicle’s rear seat. When officers asked the driver if he had any items of concern on his person or in the vehicle, he reportedly said he didn’t think so and gave police permission to check.
When checking the inside of the vehicle, according to a probable cause affidavit, police found four syringes, one of which was unused, two of which were used and one of which was loaded with suspected heroin. Inside a purse located on the rear floor area of the vehicle, were numerous small rubber bands, seven wax bags containing suspected heroin, and other suspected drug paraphernalia.
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During a later interview with Cornell, it was advised to police that she was picked up by Burtis in Trenton at an agreed upon $80 to perform a sexual act in his apartment at Wellington Woods. Cornell told police the two used heroin before engaging in sexual contact.
Field tests conducted on the substance by the Bucks County Crime Laboratory later came back positive for the drug.
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Burtis was charged with possession of a controlled substance, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, and disorderly conduct. Where his bail was set at 10 percent of $10,000. His case was waived onto Doylestown for trial earlier this month, according to court records.
Cornell was charged with prostitution, possession of a controlled substance, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, and disorderly conduct. Her case was filed on January 20. She is set to appear before Judge Jan Vislosky on March 3 for a preliminary hearing.
This isn’t Cornell’s first run in with the law in Bucks County, Cornell was charged with possession in Morrisville Borough back in 2010.
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Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
