A Schuylkill County man is accused of throwing nearly a pound of weed from a vehicle during a high-speed pursuit on Route 61 recently.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Shaka Brown, 29, of Frackville, who is charged with possession with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. State Police filed the charges Thursday with Magisterial District Judge Casimir Kosciolek in Orwigsburg.
State Police charged the driver of the car, Kevin Martinez, 31, of Allentown, separately with two counts of fleeing or attempting to elude police, failing to stop at a red light, failing to stay in his lane, and a turn signal violation.
The chase started around 11:15 p.m. Sept. 22 in Tilden Township, Berks County. A trooper from State Police-Schuylkill Haven was heading north on Route 61 near Lowland Rd. when a white BMW station wagon sped past him as the light turned green, entering a construction zone.
The trooper sped up but could not close the gap. He was going 67 mph in the 45 mph construction zone, and the BMW was about two-tenths of a mile ahead of him.
He caught up with the car after the construction zone, where Route 61 enters Port Clinton and the speed limit drops to 35 mph. The BMW was going 71 mph there. The driver braked hard just before the trooper turned on his lights and siren to pull the car over near Clinton St.
The BMW did not stop. During the pursuit, it crossed the center line several times at speeds between 70 and 80 mph, police say.
Near Coal Mountain Rd. in West Brunswick Township, the trooper passed the BMW and pulled in front of it to try to stop it, but the car went around him. As it passed, the trooper saw a man in the front passenger seat, later identified as Brown. The trooper could not identify the driver at that point.
As the car neared Seven Stars Rd., the trooper saw Brown throw a bag out the front passenger window, according to police. The trooper radioed other units, and Orwigsburg police and troopers from State Police-Hamburg found the bag.
The bag had ripped open, either from hitting the road or by Brown. It still held a large amount of suspected marijuana, and a large amount was scattered across the road. Nearly a pound was recovered, police say.
The pursuit ended and Brown was taken into custody.
After he was read his Miranda rights just after midnight, Brown told the trooper they had made a wrong turn but were coming from Pottsville, where they bought the marijuana from a friend at a gas station, according to police.
Brown said he did not know which gas station. When the trooper offered him some options, Brown paused, started to say “rutt,” then said it was a Sheetz or Rutter’s.
Asked why he was in the area that night, Brown said he was “buying some weed,” police say. He said he “just goes to see” the friend who sold him the marijuana but would not say where the friend lives. He also could not explain how they ended up in Berks County, where the BMW first passed the trooper.
Brown then asked what charges he would face for the marijuana. When the trooper told him it would depend on the weight, Brown said it was a pound.
Martinez waived his preliminary hearing Oct. 6, sending his charges to Schuylkill County Court. He is scheduled for formal arraignment Nov. 24 and is being held at SCI-Coal Township, according to court records.
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