A Dauphin County man is facing drug charges after police in Minersville say he attempted to conceal more than 21 grams of meth and $1,230 in cash under the hood of his vehicle during a traffic stop in the borough on Wednesday night.
Police say they arrested Zane Troy, 25, of Lykens, after a routine traffic stop escalated when a wanted passenger alerted police to narcotics stashed inside the vehicle’s engine compartment.
The incident began around 9 p.m. Wednesday when police observed a maroon 1993 Ford Explorer illegally parked in a permit-only municipal lot. A check on the vehicle’s registration revealed that it expired in December, police say.
About a half-hour later, police spotted the vehicle traveling on Sunbury St. and initiated a traffic stop as it pulled into the Fuel Up parking lot. Before emergency lights were activated, a male passenger exited the vehicle and went inside the store, police say.
Police identified the driver as Troy. When asked about the reason for the stop, Troy reportedly said the vehicle belonged to his grandfather. Troy told police he was the subject of a PFA order protecting his grandfather, preventing him from calling to renew the registration. Troy failed to provide a copy of the registration or an insurance card, police say.
Police then went inside the store to identify the passenger to ensure he was not the protected party in the PFA. The man refused to provide identification, so police returned to the vehicle and asked Troy for the passenger’s name. After Troy identified the man, a records check determined the passenger was a wanted person, police say.
Additional police responded to the scene, and the passenger – identified as Todd Marberger – was taken into custody without incident. Following his arrest, the passenger told police they should check under the hood of the Explorer Troy was driving, stating there was a green vinyl bank bag and two black bags containing cash and controlled substances secured by magnets, police say.
Police decided to impound the vehicle for further investigation. As Troy gathered his personal belongings, police say he began to pace nervously and appeared increasingly agitated. Troy then opened the hood and retrieved a green M&T bank bag from the engine compartment, police say.
When Troy opened the bag in front of police and attempted to remove cash, police observed a glassine bag. Police say they reached to grab the bag from Troy to prevent the destruction of evidence and felt a lump inside consistent with controlled substances. Troy allegedly initially refused to give up the bag and put up a struggle.
Inside the bag, police say they found $1,230 in cash and two individual glassine bags containing an off-white crystalline substance that later field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Police say the methamphetamine bags weighed a combined 21.45 grams.
Troy was taken into custody, and the vehicle was towed to the Minersville Police station. Police say Troy then agreed to a search of the Explorer.
During the search, police uncovered the two additional black bags hidden under the hood. Inside those pouches, police found prepackaged marijuana, a resealable baggie of additional suspected methamphetamine, glass smoking devices, and other miscellaneous drug paraphernalia, police say.
Troy was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker on a felony possession with intent to deliver charge and misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. He’s being held on $25,000 cash bail at Schuylkill County Prison.
UPDATE: Information added on identity of wanted passenger.
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