Duo found in spraypainted stolen truck with drugs in Altoona, police report

ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — A white truck reported stolen out of Bedford County was found in Altoona after being painted black, police reported.

Matthew Daniel Barnes, 42, of Woodbury, and Shaina Marie Mauk, 33, of Osterburg, were arrested Friday, July 19, and charged with receiving stolen property, drug possession with intent and lesser drug charges.

Altoona police spotted the duo in a black Chevy Silverado on Courtland Avenue around 4:30 p.m., according to charges. Blair County 911 confirmed the truck was reported stolen out of Bedford County as police conducted a traffic stop.

Police noted in the complaint that as they approached the truck, it appeared to have been spraypainted. They later discovered the truck was white when it was reported stolen from Ryan’s Service Inc. out of New Paris.

Barnes was asked to exit the vehicle, the criminal complaint reads. When doing so, police said they noticed a baggie hanging partially from his waistband that contained suspected methamphetamine. Police also noticed additional baggies on the seat and sticking out of a purse Mauk later admitted was hers, charges show.

A search of the truck turned up eight zip-top baggies of meth, totaling roughly 29.5 grams (just over 1.04 ounces). Police noted that some of the baggies were found in a container with Mauk’s I.D. and $198 in cash. Inside a backpack, police said they found several smoking devices, a digital scale, baggies with residue and two cut straws.

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Mauk and Barnes were arraigned and placed in Blair County Prison with bail set at $100,000 each.

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