CLEARFIELD – The three people nabbed in a June drug bust with a juvenile inside their vehicle were scheduled for preliminary hearings Wednesday.
Jeremy Gregoire and Alyssa McGarry, both 27 of Clearfield, and Gabrielle Reffett, 20, of West Decatur were arrested on drug, corruption of minors and related charges.
The charges stem from a routine traffic stop at approximately 12:47 a.m. June 23 on Palmer Street in Clearfield, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Officers Zachary S. Cowan and Elliott Neeper were on state Route 879 near the Red Roof Inn and Cowan saw a red Toyota sedan being operated by Gregoire and occupied by three others.
Gregoire was positively identified by Cowan, as he’d looked directly at the officer who was also aware that Gregoire had a suspended driver’s license.
The officers who were on a traffic stop cleared the scene and were able to locate Gregoire’s vehicle on River Road heading toward Clearfield Borough.
Gregoire turned right onto Mapes Avenue and officers followed until its intersection with Palmer Street, where he turned right and entered the driveway of a known “drug house.”
Police activated their emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop at the entrance to the driveway. Cowan made contact with Gregoire, who confirmed he didn’t have a driver’s license.
Cowan advised Gregoire about the lack of turn signal notification and asked him why he was at this residence. He told Cowan he was there because he didn’t want the police behind him.
The officer who was aware Gregoire is a known drug user through previous experience asked about the vehicle, specifically the numerous backpacks scattered throughout it.
Neeper made contact with the front-seat passenger who was identified as Reffett and Cowan with the driver’s side, rear-seat passenger who was identified as McGarry.
Both Reffett and McGarry are known drug users, police said. The passenger’s side, rear-seat passenger was also identified as a 15-year-old juvenile.
Neeper observed one previously-opened bottle of Budweiser in plain view in the rear passenger area. It was turned over to him and found to contain a half bottle of warm beer.
Neeper began asking about the bags, who they belonged to and if they contained anything illegal. Reffett related her purse was in a bag in the back-seat area directly behind her.
He was handed a tan-colored backpack and when he opened it, he located the purse. The purse contained a digital scale, glass pipe with burnt marijuana residue and torch-style lighter.
When the purse was removed from the bag, he located a zipper pouch with two Clonazepam pills and one large, vacuum-sealed bag of suspected psychedelic mushrooms.
Reffett was asked to exit the vehicle, which she did. She was cuffed and placed in the officers’ unit, at which point she advised she wanted to cooperate.
Reffett allegedly told Neeper that there was still “a large amount” of psychedelic mushrooms inside the vehicle.
McGarry said she didn’t have anything illegal, that her only possession was her purse and she gave Cowan permission to search it.
Inside McGarry’s purse, Cowan found a prescription bottle in plain view that she indicated was a buprenorphine bottle she used to store an antibiotic.
He requested that McGarry turn over the bottle, which she did. He confirmed the bottle’s label displayed buprenorphine, and he discovered it contained 1.5 pills that were not buprenorphine.
Cowan said the pills were orange in color and were later identified as Clonidine Hydrochloride, which isn’t a controlled substance. Further search of McGarry’s purse had negative findings.
When the officers checked their information, it was found Gregoire had a suspended license and a warrant. All the individuals were subsequently detained and searched for the officers’ safety.
Gregoire was cuffed and patted down, at which point Cowan located a bulge in the right pants pocket that appeared to be a large sum of cash.
Gregoire said he’d recently sold his dirt bike and was paid in cash, adding he probably had around $1,300 on his person. The cash was later counted and totaled $1,445.
The cash was placed back in Gregoire’s pocket and he was escorted to the front of the officers’ unit. McGarry was detained and placed in the same location; the juvenile was asked to stand nearby.
A search of the vehicle uncovered a gym bag in the rear, passenger area that contained one large, vacuum-sealed bag containing two vacuum-sealed bags of suspected psychedelic mushrooms; a plastic pipe with residue; and a blue zipper pouch.
Inside the pouch, police found 12, .380-caliber bullets; two “fake cans,” which are commonly-used to conceal controlled substances, were also found in the bag. The “Rock Star Energy” container was opened and discovered to be empty.
Inside the “Arizona Mucho Mango” container, police found two plastic containers with residue, one glass pipe with residue, one plastic pen tube with residue and approximately 96 stamp bags of suspected heroin that displayed names, such as “Tasmanian Devil” and “Back Off.”
Police located a tan-colored purse on the front, passenger’s seat floor, and inside there was a plastic bag containing suspected crystal methamphetamine; a bag with residue; and seven new plastic bags.
Inside a blue gym bag that was located in the same area were various items along with a zipper pouch. Inside the pouch was a handgun that was unloaded with the magazine inside; it also contained one .380-caliber bullet and directions for a digital scale.
During an interview with Gregoire, he claimed ownership of the handgun and also related that there was another within the vehicle, but he wouldn’t provide its location.
Gregoire refused to provide any information on whom he’d obtained the drugs from but said he’d purchased the handgun from an unknown individual in DuBois.
When asked if he had the gun transferred into his name, Gregoire said no and that it was purchased through a mutual friend who he refused to identify.
Through interviews as part of the investigation, it was learned Gregoire, Reffett and McGarry had been in Room 222 at the Super 8 Motel and from which there had been drug sales.
Police said it was apparent all three individuals were involved with drug sales from both the motel and vehicle, as it was also learned that Gregoire was stopped while making a “drug run.”
Gregoire, Reffett and McGarry were found to be on probation and lodged in county jail. The juvenile was subsequently released to a parent/guardian.
Also, an officer contacted the motel and confirmed individuals had been present but had packed their belongings and checked out early, which was shortly after the traffic stop.
Because new information was received, towing services were contacted to secure the vehicle for the execution of a future search warrant.
On June 24, officers conducted further search of the vehicle, which uncovered a lock box containing a large quantity of new plastic bags, rubber bands and other items that are commonly used for the storage and sale of controlled substances.
Gregoire has been charged with felony firearms not to be carried without a license; manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; and conspiracy.
He’s also been charged with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance; use/possession of drug paraphernalia; and corruption of minors, plus three summaries.
Reffett has been charged with felony manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and conspiracy, plus misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance; use/possession of drug paraphernalia; and corruption of minors.
McGarry has been charged with felony manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and conspiracy, plus misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance; use/possession of drug paraphernalia; adult/muti/dest label; and corruption of minors.
Gregoire, Reffett and McGarry waived their rights to preliminary hearings Wednesday during centralized court at the jail. Bail is set at $100,000 for Gregoire and $50,000 for both Reffett and McGarry.
