Bedford County man arrested with heroin and meth after shoplifting

CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A Bedford County man is facing charges after being arrested for drug possession after stealing from a Walmart in Johnstown.

Joseph Tinkey, 27, faces drug and retail theft charges after he was caught stealing and officers found several drugs in his bag and car. On May 7, officers with the Richland Township Police Department were called to the Walmart on Town Center Drive for a report of a man who had been caught stealing, according to the criminal complaint.

Once there, officers received footage showing Tinkey hiding items in her bag and then attempting to leave the store without paying. During a search of Tinkey’s bag, officers found a Pokémon container containing three glass containers. One of the containers contained methamphetamine and the others contained heroin, according to the affidavit.

Officers then asked Tinkey if he had drugs in his car and Tinkey allegedly admitted he had an eight ball. Tinkey consented to having his vehicle searched, according to the complaint.

Police found the following in his car:

• A bag with white residue
• A green drug kit with syringes and a crack pipe

Officers also found a black safe and Tinkey allegedly gave consent to open it. In the box were the following items:

• A black digital scale
• Eight rounds of meth suspected
• A bag containing four capsules of suspected heroin
• A bag containing five capsules of suspected heroin
• A bag of suspected heroin
• A glass container containing 11 capsules of suspected heroin
• $1,200 cash
• Two syringes

Officers also found the following during another search:

• $417 in cash
• A container of suspected methamphetamine
• A bag containing two capsules of suspected heroin
• A glass container containing suspected heroin
• A needle
• A crack pipe
• A red and silver container containing suspected heroin
• A green container with three syringes

Tinkey is incarcerated in the Cambria County Jail with bail set at 10 percent of $75,000. He faces charges of possession with intent to deliver, retail theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 22.