CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield man is facing charges for allegedly being involved with the distribution of illegal drugs in the local area.
Jordon Jerel Lance, 34, has been charged by Officer Alex Burkett of the Clearfield Borough police with felony counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities and criminal use of a communication facility.
He has also been charged with five misdemeanor counts of intentional possession of a controlled substance and two counts of use/possession of drug paraphernalia.
Lance waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday during centralized court at the Clearfield County Jail. Bail has been set at $50,000 monetary.
The charges stem from a traffic stop that occurred Feb. 28 in Clearfield Borough, according to the affidavit of probable cause. Lance was a front-seat passenger of the vehicle and known by Burkett due to previous police encounters.
Burkett was also aware that Lance was on state parole and asked what he was doing. He said he was at a West Front Street address to pick up a Clearfield male who was known to local police as a methamphetamine user.
Burkett ran both the female driver’s and Lance’s information through Clearfield County Control. Both Chief Vincent McGinnis and Assistant Chief Greg Neeper responded to the scene.
McGinnis advised Burkett that Lance had been observed reaching to his right side and underneath his seat. For his safety, Burkett approached the passenger’s side and ordered Lance to show his hands. He also asked for Lance to exit the vehicle.
Lance obeyed all commands and was frisked for dangerous weapons. Police didn’t locate anything. Burkett proceeded to search underneath Lance’s front passenger’s seat and observed a digital scale and a black container with a pipe inside.
Burkett removed the scale and pipe. The pipe was notably discolored and is known to be commonly used to inhale methamphetamine. The scale had small crystalized flakes on it that resembled methamphetamine.
Lance was placed in handcuffs and Burkett searched his person. Burkett ordered the female driver to exit the vehicle, so that it could also be searched.
Inside the vehicle, Burkett located a small drawstring bag wrapped with rubber bands in the passenger’s side door. Inside the bag, he observed several stamp baggies with green alien logos on them.
Some stamp baggies contained pills and one clear plastic bag contained a larger cloudy, crystalized rock that was suspected to be an “eight ball” of methamphetamine.
Lance’s cell phone was originally on his lap when he was ordered from the vehicle. It had fallen onto the ground. Burkett retrieved Lance’s cell phone and secured it; he also seized the other items from the vehicle.
Lance was transported to the Clearfield Borough police station and agreed to speak with Burkett. He said that he hadn’t had a job for over a year and when asked, he removed money from his wallet.
Burkett said that Lance had a very large amount of cash, and it was placed on the interview table. Lance attempted to claim that it was from helping people move and from Christmas, which Burkett didn’t believe to be true.
Lance discussed drug activity in the Clearfield area. Though he had knowledge of methamphetamine dealers and users, he “continuously” denied any involvement in the distribution of illegal drugs.
Burkett asked and obtained permission to search Lance’s LG TracFone. Its pictures depicted large amounts of suspected methamphetamine. Facebook messages also revealed that he has been and is involved with the distribution of illegal drugs in the Clearfield area.
Following the interview, Lance was released to state parole agent Keith Summerson.
The money Lance had retrieved from his wallet totaled $964 and was seized as evidence. A K-9 Trooper and K-9 Tom conducted a cash scan and positively alerted to the presence of narcotics on the bag, which contained the cash seized from Lance.
Burkett processed the items seized from the vehicle, which were three-plus pills of buprenorphine hydrochloride; one pill of acetaminophen and oxycodone hydrochloride; four pills of acetaminophen and hydrocodone bitartrate; and approximately 11 pills and broken pieces of alprazolam.
The suspected methamphetamine was weighed at approximately three grams. It’s commonly known as an “eight ball” based upon Burkett’s law enforcement training and experience.
All the drug evidence was photographed and transferred to the Erie Regional Crime Laboratory for further analysis.
