CLEARFIELD – A Morrisdale man is facing charges for allegedly driving under the influence of Subutex and being caught in possession of methamphetamine.
Brandon James Kifer, 38, has been charged by Officer Eric D. Routch of the Lawrence Township police with a felony count of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and misdemeanor counts of intentional possession of a controlled substance, use/possession of drug paraphernalia and DUI/controlled substance.
Kifer waived his right to a preliminary hearing during centralized court Wednesday at the Clearfield County Jail. His bail has been set at $100,000 monetary.
The charges stem from a report of a suspicious male Dec. 7 at the Wal-Mart Supercenter, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed with the office of Magisterial District Judge Mike Morris.
A witness saw the male asleep at the wheel of a gold-colored Chevrolet Silverado. The truck was parked on the sidewalk in front of the store.
The witness had to bang on the window to wake up the male. When he did, he drove his truck to the back of the parking lot and went back to sleep.
Upon arrival on-scene, Routch and Police Chief Doug Clark saw the male slumped over in the driver’s seat, and his truck was still running.
Routch made contact with the driver, now identified as Kifer, who stated he just dozed off while waiting for a friend to come out of Wal-Mart.
Kifer, however, had a raspy voice, slurred speech and was drowsy. He was asked if he had consumed any medication and he indicated he takes Subutex, Routch said.
Kifer was asked to exit his truck and to perform field sobriety tests. Afterward, he was asked to be evaluated by a Drug Recognition Expert at the station, which he agreed to.
When Kifer was being taken into custody, Clark conducted a pat down search. He observed a broken rubber glove containing two sandwich bags.
Inside the bags were a large amount of a white, crystalized substance and a large, crystalized rock. Kifer accused the officers of planting the bags in his pocket.
Clark also located a capped syringe with residue inside. The crystalized substance and syringe were collected as evidence, and Kifer was taken back to the station for a DRE evaluation.
While the DRE evaluated Kifer, Routch retrieved a scale to weigh the seized crystalized substance. It weighed 61 grams, according to the affidavit.
After the evaluation, the DRE advised there was a substance in Kifer’s nasal cavity. It reportedly glowed when a light was used and Kifer showed signs of impairment.
Kifer was subsequently transported to the Clearfield Penn Highlands Hospital for a legal blood draw. Multiple attempts were made to obtain blood, and some was able to be drawn.
Routch said it took multiple attempts due to “excessive drug use,” which made it difficult to obtain enough blood. Each time he asked Kifer if he was still willing, and he indicated yes.
The blood was placed in an NMS kit and provided to Routch and logged as evidence in the police station. Kifer was placed in county jail.
