A homeless man in Pottsville is currently at Schuylkill County Prison after police say he dropped bags used to distribute meth as he was being released from custody.
According to an affidavit, police in Pottsville were called to the Burger King on W. Market St. at about 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 21. There, staff at the restaurant told police that a man standing at the corner of 22nd and W. Market streets – identified as 39-year-old David Wolfe Jr. – had just been inside an employee’s vehicle without permission.
The employee said he was heading to his vehicle after work when he saw Wolfe Jr. inside. Wolfe Jr. didn’t steal anything and the employee said he didn’t want to press charges; he just wanted the man to get some help.
Police released Wolfe Jr. from their custody but while doing so, multiple clear baggies dropped out of his grocery bag. A search of that grocery bag then revealed a small baggie containing what police describe as a clear, crystal substance.
Wolfe Jr. asked police if they’d take him to his home on W. Market St. and that he’d show them the exact house where he wanted to go. When police arrived at that location, they spoke with the residents there and they reportedly told police they didn’t know Wolfe Jr. and that he never lived there.
Police say Wolfe Jr. also said a vehicle parked outside that residence was his but upon checking with the residents at that home, they learned that wasn’t true either.
Wolfe Jr. was taken to City Hall. There, he reportedly told police that he’d smoked meth a couple hours prior to this entire episode. Police say Wolfe Jr. was acting very paranoid and told police “multiple different stories which didn’t make much sense.”
Eventually, Wolfe Jr. said that he’d been homeless for the last few days.
A test of that crystal substance, police say, confirmed it was meth. Police say he had 3.92 grams on his person at the time of his arrest.
Wolfe Jr. was charged with a single count of drug possession and public drunkenness. He was arraigned in the early morning hours of Feb. 22 before Magisterial District Judge David Plachko. Plachko set bail at 10% of $5,000 and remanded him to Schuylkill County Prison. A preliminary hearing is currently scheduled for Monday afternoon before Judge James Reiley.
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