CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield man is facing charges after being found in possession of suspected methamphetamine and packaging materials.
Marcus Homer Waltmon, 39, was originally charged by Officer Elliott Neeper of the Lawrence Township police with felony manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and contraband/controlled substance (two counts) and misdemeanor possession of marijuana and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.
Waltmon waived his right to a preliminary hearing on some of the charges Wednesday. The two felony counts of contraband/controlled substance were withdrawn, and bail was set at $10,000 unsecured.
The charges stem from a traffic stop that occurred April 26 on Bigler Avenue near Hammermill Lane, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed through the office of Magisterial District Judge Mike Morris.
Neeper was on routine patrol with Officer Zachary Cowan and Chief Douglas Clark. Police were requested to assist Deputy George DeHaven of the Clearfield County Sheriff’s Office, who had stopped a Pontiac Grand Prix for an expired inspection.
DeHaven had observed three people inside the vehicle. He said prior to the driver pulling over, he had observed moving around and he suspected they were possibly attempting to conceal items.
Upon arrival to the scene, police made contact with DeHaven and another deputy. Both had made contact with the driver and could detect the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle, which was confirmed by Neeper and Cowan.
The driver was identified as Jason Paul Luzier, 38, of Clearfield and the front-seat passenger as Waltmon; a Clearfield male was also a passenger in the left, rear seat. All three denied having marijuana on them or inside the vehicle.
Police had all three males exit the vehicle in order to conduct a search. On Waltmon officers located a cigarette case containing approximately 46 small zip stamp bags in his front pocket, which are commonly used to distribute controlled substances to others.
Waltmon appeared to be high, had bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of marijuana coming from his clothing. Waltmon admitted that he had smoked marijuana prior to coming into contact with police.
Upon a search of Waltmon’s seat, Clark found a gray hooded sweatshirt that had been on Waltmon’s lap at the time of the traffic stop. It contained a Camel cigarette pack and a large zip-up pouch; the cigarette pack contained two medium bags with 12 grams of suspected methamphetamine.
Inside the pouch, Clark found three additional zip bags containing suspected methamphetamine; a scale; and drug paraphernalia, including a spoon with residue, two butane torches and other items.
DeHaven and Cowan questioned the driver, Luzier. He had “jittery” behavior and appeared to be “hyped up” or “excited.” Luzier was asked to exit the vehicle to be searched, at which time officers located approximately four capped needles in his left pants pocket.
While speaking with Luzier, officers observed that he had dilated pupils with a rigid muscle tone and body tremors. He reportedly kept attempting to pull away from officers and DeHaven had to tell him multiple times to calm down.
While Neeper was speaking with Luzier, he allegedly observed a white, powdery substance in Luzier’s nostril cavity. Luzier was subsequently detained and placed in a patrol unit.
Officers proceeded to complete a search of the rear of the vehicle, which turned up a magnetic hidden compartment box. The box is known to be used to conceal items on the outside or underside of vehicles, and it was seized by officers.
Upon further search of the vehicle, officers found a black zip bag in the glove box. It contained drug paraphernalia, including two glass pipes, alcohol swabs and other items, which were seized as evidence.
Neeper returned to speak with Luzier, who allegedly continued to exhibit behaviors consistent with the use of methamphetamine. When police checked his nostril cavity with a UV pen light, Luzier admitted to using methamphetamine earlier after waking up that morning.
When advised it was suspected he was under the influence of a controlled substance, Luzier indicated he would submit to a legal blood draw. He was transported to Penn Highlands, and his vehicle was towed from the scene.
Waltmon was turned over to sheriff deputies and advised he’d be housed in county jail on a 48-hour detainer. Waltmon was asked to turn over any items that could have been missed in a previous search, and he indicated he didn’t have anything in his possession.
At the jail, staff conducted a strip search of Waltmon. At that time, he reported that he had brought a marijuana blunt into the jail and it would be located in his pants. A corrections officer seized the blunt and turned it over to township police.
All drug-related items were transferred to the Erie Regional Crime Laboratory for further analysis.
Luzier has also been charged with misdemeanor counts of DUI/controlled substance (two counts) and use/possession of drug paraphernalia, plus one summary. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday.
