CLEARFIELD – A DuBois woman has been accused of concealing two baggies of drugs in her mouth at the Clearfield County Jail.
Megan Louise Snyder, 36, has been charged by Deputy David Johnston of the Clearfield County Sheriff’s Office with a felony count of contraband/controlled substance and misdemeanor use/possession of drug paraphernalia (two counts) and intentional possession of a controlled substance.
Snyder waived her right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday during centralized court at the jail. Her bail is currently set at $10,000 unsecured.
The charges stem from April 30, 2018 when DuBois City police had contact with Snyder and found there was an active bench warrant through Clearfield County for her failure to make payment, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Police and deputies made arrangements to meet at the Rockton Fire Hall, so that Snyder could be taken into custody. When deputies arrived, she was removed from the police unit while trying to smoke a cigarette.
The city officer took the unlit cigarette from Snyder and discarded it. He told deputies that he had searched Snyder and when he asked if she was in possession of any contraband/drugs, she said no.
As Johnston secured Snyder, he asked again if she had any contraband/drugs. He explained that now was the time to advise the deputies, because if she’d be found in possession at the jail, she’d face felonies. Snyder reportedly said no.
At the jail, a female corrections officer searched Snyder and removed some of her personal belongings. She then asked Snyder to open her mouth; Johnston had reportedly observed Snyder reaching into her mouth.
Snyder proceeded to remove two plastic baggies containing a light-colored, powdery substance, which she later said was methamphetamine. Another CO turned the evidence over to Johnston.
During an interview with Johnston May 1, Snyder admitted the baggies contained methamphetamine, and that her husband had tossed them to her. When asked why she didn’t tell authorities after being asked multiple times, she said she was “nervous.”
Snyder said she thought about telling deputies while en route to the jail but then didn’t. She said she’d be willing to provide a written statement but wasn’t physically able to. Johnston believed her condition was drug-related and ended the interview.
Later May 1, 2018, Johnston was contacted by the Collections Office, which advised Snyder would be released from jail because her owed payment had been made in full. He went back to the jail to attempt to obtain a written statement.
However, Snyder appeared sick and Johnston eventually decided to end the interview. He asked her if she’d ingested any drugs while concealing the baggies in her mouth; he also related she wouldn’t be in any additional trouble, but he wanted her to get medically treated, if necessary.
On May 3, 2018, Johnston removed the evidence to be sent to the Pennsylvania State Police’s Erie Crime Laboratory.
On Oct. 4, 2018, he received a laboratory report that showed the baggies contained methamphetamine and amphetamine, both are Schedule II controlled substances, according to the affidavit.