CLEARFIELD – A call from a video store employee led Clearfield Borough Police to find a man who was in possession with several types of drugs while a young child was in his home, and now that man has waived his right to a preliminary hearing.
Eric F. O’Kane, 24, of DuBois and formerly of Clearfield, remains free on unsecured bail as he awaits the next step in the legal process.
On Wednesday he waived his right to a preliminary hearing in exchange for the commonwealth withdrawing two charges that were filed against him.
The investigation into O’Kane began in May when Clearfield Borough Police received a call from a video store employee who said she had concern for a child who was in the store with a man. She explained that the man appeared to be intoxicated.
When police arrived, the man was gone, but the clerk provided the responding officer with his address from his rental receipt.
Police then went to O’Kane’s home, and he answered the door after police had a 911 dispatcher call him.
O’Kane permitted the officers to see if anyone else was in the home, according to court documents.
While checking to see if the child was there, officers saw “grow lights,” used to grow plants indoors, inside the main bedroom as well a potted plants. Officers also noticed an electronic surveillance system with a television that was used to view the outside of the front door.
Police determined that the child in the home was fine, but O’Kane’s speech was slurred.
While speaking with officers, they noticed that O’Kane had what appeared to be ice cream around his mouth and on his shirt. A bowl with melted ice cream was discovered in the living room.
O’Kane’s wife then gave the police permission to search the home, saying that her husband had been at Discovery House (then in Pike Township) earlier in the day to receive methadone treatment.
Officers seized jars and containers containing marijuana as well as several prescription pain-relievers, muscle relaxers, anti-depressants and seizure/anxiety drugs.
The drugs seized in the case were confirmed to be marijuana and various prescription drugs by the Pennsylvania State Police Crime Lab in Erie, court papers stated.