A homeless Schuylkill County man was jailed on drug charges Thursday after police say they caught him on a motorcycle that had been reported stolen by a man who didn’t own it. And the man they arrested was with a woman who claimed the bike was hers but it wasn’t.
According to police in Schuylkill Haven, officers were called at about 6 a.m. to a home on Dock St. where a man had reported his red Harley Davidson Sportster had been stolen.
Police say they were able to locate the motorcycle at a nearby gas station. When they pulled in to the parking lot, they say Jarrett Zalonka, 26, a homeless man from Saint Clair, was on the bike. They told Zalonka to get off the vehicle. As he dismounted, police say Zalonka motioned to a woman who was approaching him as she left the store.
The woman reportedly told police she’s married to the person who reported the motorcycle stolen and that she was actually the registered owner. She then said that she’d given permission to Zalonka to use the bike.
Police say they tried confirming if the woman was the registered owner and they say that wasn’t true. They also say that the man who called to report the motorcycle stolen was also not the owner. The bike was towed from the scene at the order of police.
During a search of Zalonka at the scene, police say he removed a container of THC dabs from one pants pocket and a marijuana pipe from his sweatshirt.
A drawstring bag that Zalonka had on him was also searched. Police say that bag contained drug paraphernalia, syringes, baggies, and fake money that had pouches used for storing smaller items.
Zalonka reportedly told police that he didn’t use the fake money with pouches to store drugs. A white residue found on that item was probably methamphetamine, police say Zalonka told them, but that it wasn’t his and that someone else probably put it in his bag.
As for the syringes, Zalonka reportedly told police that he was diabetic and needed them for that condition.
An L&M cigarette pack found in Zalonka’s pocket, police say, contained a small baggie that contained a white residue. Police say a field test of that residue turned up a positive result for methamphetamine.
Zalonka was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge AJ Serina on Thursday and charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. Serina set bail at $5,000 cash and Zalonka was remanded to Schuylkill County Prison.
No charges have been filed against others involved in this investigation, according to court records.
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