Police: Man tries to sell narcotics in courtroom, gets arrested


Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, sheriff's deputies arrested a man Monday morning after he offered to sell illegal pills to a person in a Pittsburgh traffic courtroom seating area, police said.

Christopher Durkin, 35, appeared in front of District Magistrate James Hanley to face one count of driving under suspension Monday.

After his hearing, Durkin walked spoke with an unidentified person in courtroom's seating area, authorities said. A near-by sheriff’s deputy, who was also inside the room, instructed Durkin to leave the courtroom.

After he did the unidentified man approached the deputy to report Durkin had just offered to sell him drugs. Police said the man further stated that he did not know Durkin and that he had asked him if he was interested in buying Suboxone pills.

The deputy found Durkin in the hallway and discovered he had two unit doses of Suboxone on him, police said.

Authorities arrested Durkin on two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance. He was taken to the Allegheny County Jail, where he was awaiting arraignment.