WASHINGTON TWP., Pa. (EYT) – A Rhode Island man is in the Jefferson County Jail on drug and related charges following a traffic stop on Interstate 80 in Washington Township.
According to a criminal complaint, Trooper Steele, of Punxsutawney-based State Police, was monitoring traffic on Interstate 80 when he clocked a white Kia Forte at 98 miles per hour in the westbound lane in Washington Township, Jefferson County.
After pulling the vehicle over and making contact with the driver – Brian Alexander Mackie, 26, of Chepachet, Rhode Island – Officer Steele noticed a strong odor of marijuana.
Although Mackie didn’t have a valid driver’s license, he provided a registration, ID card, and proof of insurance.
Mackie told Officer Steele that the car was owned by the known female passenger.
After Officer Steele ran computer checks on the car and Mackie, he found that Mackie was wanted in Florida and his Rhode Island driver’s license was suspended.
Trooper Steele requested assistance at the scene, and Corporal Means and K-9 50 arrived on the scene.
After Trooper Steele asked Mackie to exit the car, he asked him why there was a warrant for his arrest in Florida, and Mackie said it was because he had failed to appear in court on a domestic dispute charge.
Trooper Steele also asked Mackie if there was anything illegal in the car, and Mackie said there was about a gram of marijuana in the car.
After police searched the car, about 2.5 grams of suspected marijuana were found, as well as a black, plastic bottle with marijuana residue, a white plastic bottle with three blue pills, and a glass smoking pipe.
Mackie stated that he had last used marijuana the night before. He was then transported to the Punxsutawney barracks where Trooper Meko, a drug recognition expert, found Mackie to be under the influence of marijuana.
Mackie was arraigned at 9:35 p.m. on March 15 on the following charges:
– Intentional Possession Controlled Substance By Person Not Registered, Misdemeanor
– Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Misdemeanor
– Marijuana-Small Amount Personal Use, Misdemeanor
– DUI: Controlled Substance-Impaired Ability – 1st Offense
– Driving While Operator Privilege Suspended Or Revoked, Summary
– Exceed 65 OR 70 MPH For All Vehicles By 1 MPH, Summary
– Careless Driving, Summary
– Reckless Driving, Summary
– Failure to use safety belt – driver and front seat occupant, Summary
He was lodged in the Jefferson County Jail on $30,000.00 monetary bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 28, with Judge Inzana presiding.
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.
