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UPMC security guard, 3 others arrested for alleged drug possession in Swissvale

SWISSVALE, Pa. — A University of Pittsburgh Medical Center security guard and three others were arrested for alleged drug possession following a traffic stop in Swissvale.

Shawn Fitzpatrick, a security guard at UPMC Shadyside, was the driver of the vehicle pulled over by police on Monongahela Avenue, authorities said. Three passengers were also in the vehicle driven by Fitzpatrick.

Police said officers followed the vehicle from Braddock after seeing it pull into and park in an unmarked alley.

Officers said they then observed a hand-to-hand transaction between two of the passengers in the vehicle, which then proceeded to Monongahela Avenue.

When officers stopped the vehicle, passenger John Cicchitello was asked to exit the vehicle, and upon doing so a bundle of heroin fell from his shorts, police said.

Cicchitello was arrested and Fitzpatrick was asked out of the vehicle along with the remaining two passengers, Cathy Montalbano and Jamie Betten, all of whom were taken into police custody.

Officers found a fully loaded Glock 9mm legally in Fitzpatrick’s possession along with a bullet-restraint vest, three knives and a backpack belonging to him inside the vehicle. Authorities said they removed five hypodermic needles, a tourniquet, a bottle of sterile water and a small cotton bail with heroin residue from the bag.

Fitzpatrick told police that the money used to purchase the drugs came from stolen items returned for gift cards that were then sold to a pawn shop for cash.