A Schuylkill County man told police he found the methamphetamine – that he said wasn’t there – that police discovered under the floor mat of his SUV during a traffic stop and that he was trying to sell it to known drug addicts.
Isaiah Quirindongo, 23, of Saint Clair, is charged with possession with intent to deliver, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving without a license.
Quirindongo gave police two different accounts of where the drugs came from, police say. Both times, he said he had been trying to sell them.
The case began a little after 8:30 p.m. Aug. 30, when an officer stopped a white Acura SUV near the intersection of Wolfe and East Market streets in Pottsville, police say. Police say Quirindongo pulled into traffic way from a parked position without using his blinker.
Quirindongo identified himself with a Pennsylvania ID card and told the officer he did not have a valid driver’s license. A front-seat passenger was also in the vehicle.
While speaking with the two, the officer says he smelled burnt marijuana coming from inside the SUV. Both denied having a medical marijuana card, and Quirindongo said he had a roach, which he handed over to police without being asked.
Police say they asked whether Quirindongo had anything besides the small amount of marijuana, and Quirindongo replied, “no, you can search me.” Asked whether there was anything else in the car, Quirindongo said, “no, you can check.” He allegedly then consented to a search of his vehicle.
Neither Quirindongo or his passenger were handcuffed, and both were standing on the sidewalk during the exchange, according to police.
Opening the driver’s door, police say they saw a resealable plastic bag sticking out from under the floor mat. Under the mat, police say, was a gallon-size bag holding two knotted baggie corners containing a crystal substance and a smaller resealable bag holding another partial baggie corner of the same material. Two more knotted baggie corners were under the opposite corner of the floor mat, police say.
A joint and metal grinder were also found in the center console, police say.
At the scene, Quirindongo told police he got the suspected meth from a friend, police say. He said he had been trying to sell the suspected methamphetamine, but the people he went to didn’t have any money. He was released while police gathered his information.
A field test of the crystal substance came back positive for methamphetamine, police say. The five bags weighed roughly about 16 grams in all.
The next afternoon, police say they met with Quirindongo in Saint Clair to further their investigation, police say. He came to the meeting willingly.
That’s when his story changed, police say. Quirindongo told police this time that he found the meth then went to a residence of known drug addicts and attempted to sell it to them, according to police.
Quirindongo was arraigned Friday before Magisterial District Judge James Reiley, who set bail at $25,000 unsecured. A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 11, 2027.
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