State Police Charge Women With Possession Of $500 Worth Of Heroin

Pennsylvania State Police have arrested two women after conducting a traffic stop in Bristol Township.

Philadelphia resident Jessica Martini, 25, and Shawna Wiggins, 24, of Bristol, were arrested and charged Monday. Martini, is charged with aggravated assault, and related drug charges. Wiggins is charged with drug offenses, in addition to false identification to law enforcement, driving an unregistered vehicle, and driving on a license that was suspended or revoked. Both women await a preliminary hearing with District Judge Joanne Kline and sit at the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10 percent of $100,000 bail.

According to the trooper who made the arrest, he was traveling northbound on I-95 in the area of Exit 40 at approximately 5:14 p.m. on Monday when he noticed a silver Impala following a black sedan too closely. When the trooper ran the Impala’s plates, he discovered the vehicle’s registration was a dead tag, and he activated his emergency lights in an attempt to pull over the Impala, according to court documents.

As the trooper approached the vehicle, he was told by the driver, later identified as Wiggins, that she did not have her license, according to court documents. The trooper wrote he was provided with an incorrect name when he asked Wiggins to identify herself. Wiggins noted that the name she provided, Shawna Willimas, was correct, and she had just accidentally spelled it wrong.

During this time, the trooper observed the vehicle’s passenger, later identified as Martini, making quick movements insider her purse. When the officer asked to see inside, he found 10 blue packets of positively tested heroin, court papers state.

The trooper, who was later able to positively identify Wiggins after he was provided with information from the passengers, discovered Wiggins had warrants from both the Bucks County Sheriffs and Philadelphia County Probation. At that point, she was taken into custody.

When the trooper reconvened with Martini, he was instructed by her that she had “a lot” of heroin inside her purse. Inside, the trooper counted 112 heroin packets wrapped around partially torn white paper. Inside the vehicle’s glove box, the trooper uncovered six blue packets of heroin and a black cell phone, according to a probable cause affidavit.

While in custody, Wiggins allegedly relayed to officers that both her and Martini had traveled to Philadelphia and purchased the heroin for approximately $500.

Troopers noted in court documents, that while in custody, Martini was observed taking the heroin off the patrol table and placing it in her pants. After Martini resisted to return the heroin, she bit the forearm of another officer before being placed back in handcuffs.

Both women are scheduled for September 2 preliminary hearings.

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.