CLEARFIELD – A suspected local drug dealer was scheduled to appear for court on Wednesday.
James M. Dillen, 26, of Grassflat is charged by Trooper Dennis Peters of the Clearfield-based state police with felony manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and flight to avoid apprehension.
Dillen is also charged with misdemeanor intentional possession of a controlled substance, marijuana-small amount for personal use, deliver/intent to deliver drug paraphernalia and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.
On Wednesday, Dillen’s preliminary hearing was continued until 8:30 a.m. April 29 during centralized court. His bail is currently set at $100,000 monetary.
According to the affidavit, at approximately 6:15 p.m. April 11, Peters received information that a wanted person, Dillen, was observed in the area of the 700 block of Houser Road in Bradford Township.
The trooper was provided with a physical description of Dillen and a records check confirmed there were several active warrants against him.
Peters also discovered there was a warrant for Dillen in Frederick County, Maryland, for a probation violation with extradition in a felony drug possession case with a “guilty” disposition.
When the trooper arrived in the area, he saw Dillen, who fled on foot towards a wooded area as soon as four marked patrol units came into his view.
Peters exited his patrol unit and pursued Dillen into the woods for approximately 200 yards; troopers ordered Dillen to stop several times.
At some point, Dillen fell and was taken into custody without further incident. During a routine custodial search, he was found in possession of drugs and paraphernalia.
He allegedly had eight hypodermic needles; 25 glass smoking pipes (21 were unused); two metal spoons; a plastic spoon; two lighters; a methamphetamine smoking kit; two small amounts of marijuana; a pipe-scraping tool; and a large quantity of methamphetamine.
Based on his training and experience, Peters said Dillen was in possession with intent to distribute a large quantity of methamphetamine.
The trooper confirmed Dillen’s warrants with the Clearfield County Sheriff’s Office, which requested that he be transported and housed at the Clearfield County Jail.
A NIK test was conducted on the suspected methamphetamine, which showed positive results for the drug. The seized drugs will be sent to the Erie Regional Crime Laboratory for further analysis, according to the affidavit.