BELL TWP., Pa. (EYT) – A Brockway man is facing charges for allegedly driving while under the influence of Cannabis and recklessly endangering the welfare of his minor passenger.
According to court documents, State Police in Punxsutawney filed the following criminal charges against 23-year-old Broc Nikolas Marche, of Brockway, in Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock’s office on January 13, 2023:
– Use/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor
– Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol/Controlled Substance, Misdemeanor 1 (three counts)
– Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Misdemeanor 2
– Obscured, covered, or Inhibit Visibility to Plate, Summary
– Careless Driving, Summary
– Obstructed window, Summary (two counts)
According to a criminal complaint, a PSP Punxsutawney Trooper followed a vehicle that was traveling east on Clark Street in Punxsutawney Borough on December 14 around 12:10 p.m.
The trooper followed the vehicle to the intersection of Clark Street and Hampton Avenue. After stopping at the intersection, the trooper noted the vehicle pull off of Clark Street and onto Hampton. The driver did so in an overly aggressive manner and “unnecessarily accelerated onto Ridge Avenue (State Route 119),” the complaint states.
This activity caught the trooper’s attention and raised his suspicions. The trooper then entered Hampton Avenue to Ridge Avenue and accelerated so he could catch back up to the car, a purple in color Ford Focus. After getting behind the vehicle, the trooper noted that the operator slowed significantly. He followed the car northbound on Route 119 and noted that the vehicle had stickers on the back windshield along the right side, the bottom, and the left side. The trooper noted that the stickers were opaque in nature and “would cause an obstruction to the rear of the vehicle while looking through the rear windshield,” the complaint continues.
In addition, the trooper observed that the vehicle had a license plate cover that covered the issuing state, as well as the writing on the bottom of the plate. The vehicle also had an object hanging from the rear-view mirror that extended downward approximately 8″ and was approximately 2-2.5″ in width that would cause obstruction while looking through the front windshield,” the complaint indicates.
According to the complaint, the trooper followed the vehicle to the intersection of Route 119 and Bells-Mills Cloe Road where it was safe to execute a traffic stop. Upon activating the unit’s emergency lighting equipment, the vehicle – a Ford Focus – pulled off on the east side of Route 119.
The trooper approached the vehicle and saw two white males, both seated in the front of the car. While speaking to the driver, the trooper noted that his eyes appeared bloodshot and watery. He also observed a “greenish-colored bag between his seat and the center console.” The trooper recognized the bag as being from the medical marijuana dispensary, Curaleaf. He began to question the driver about the marijuana, asking him for his medical marijuana card and when the last time he used it. The driver responded that it had been between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., the complaint states.
Upon checking his license and registration, the trooper identified the driver as Broc Marche. After two other troopers arrived, the first trooper asked Marche to exit the car to conduct Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST). Upon patting down Marche, the trooper discovered a THC vape pen inside his pocket, the complaint indicates.
According to the complaint, Marche was given a battery of SFSTs “which he could not complete in a satisfactory manner.” Marche showed several signs and indicators of being impaired by Cannabis. He was then placed into custody and transported to PSP Punxsutawney for a drug influence evaluation. Prior to departure, the passenger was identified as a 16-year-old “juvenile victim.”
At 12:50 p.m., Marche was read his Miranda Warnings by a trooper. He signed the Rights and Warnings Waiver and agreed to perform the drug influence evaluation. At the conclusion of the evaluation, Marche was determined to be impaired by Cannabis, according to the complaint.
He was taken to Punxsutawney Area Hospital where he submitted to a chemical test of blood.
On January 6, the PSP Punxsutawney Trooper received the toxicology report showing that Marche had Delta-9 THC, 11-Hydroxy Delta-9 THC, and Delta-9 Carboxy THC in his blood.
Charges were filed against Marche on January 6.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for February 7 at 10:15 a.m. in front of Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock.
Copyright © 2024 EYT Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of the contents of this service without the express written consent of EYT Media Group, Inc. is expressly prohibited.
