Drug arrests reported by PMRP

Several drug arrests were reported by Pocono Mountain Regional police occurring in recent days.

Police said on Jan. 14 about 9:24 p.m. officers were investigating an incident at the Mt. Pocono Plaza in the K-mart store lot when they observed a male jump out of a vehicle and begin running. Officers then observed the vehicle being driven recklessly in the lot.

A vehicle stop was made of the Honda Civic. The driver was identified as Mark V. Pinkney Jr., of Tobbyhanna. A consent search of the vehicle was obtained and found inside were two small baggies of marijuana. Drug charges were filed against Pinkey.

On Jan. 20 about 1:30 a.m. a vehicle stop was made along SR611 at Grange Rd., in Mt. Pocono, for faulty equipment. At the stop officers could smell the odor of marijuana coming from inside the car. A search of the vehicle revealed several ounce bags of marijuana along with ecstasy pills. Police also found a loaded BB gun with the drug in the glove box.

The driver was identified as Alex Tirado III, 26, of Stroudsburg. He was placed under arrest and charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was committed to the county prison in Snydersville pending arraignment.

On Jan. 22 about 4:11 p.m. officers conducted a traffic stop along Long Pond Road at SR940 for a tint violation. The driver was identified as John J. Brown, of Long Pond. While speaking with Brown officers detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the car. A consent search was obtained and found in the vehicle was a plastic bag containing a small amount of marijuana. Brown was placed under arrest on a drug count.

Also on Jan. 22, about 11:33 p.m., officers stopped a vehicle along SR940 at Miller Drive, in Pocono Pines, for a tint violation. The driver was identified as Michael Martinez, 30, of Tobyhanna. While speaking with him officers detected the odor of burnt marijuana from inside the car. A further investigation revealed marijuana debris and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle.

Martinez will be charged with disorderly conduct, police said.

On Sunday, Jan. 24, officers conducted a traffic stop along SR115 at the Blakeslee Flea Market, in Blakeslee, for an equipment violation.

The occupants of the car were identified as Fares Anthony Houssein, 23, and Travis Siralatheon Davis, 20, both of Wilkes-Barre.

A license check revealed Davis had an active warrant for his arrest issued from the Luzerne County sheriff's office for failure to appear. Officers also observed marijuana on the floorboard and detected the odor of marijuana coming from the passenger side.

Houssein consented to a search of his person and vehicle. The search revealed a small amount of marijuana in his pocket and a glass marijuana bowl and marijuana buds on the floorboard.

Davis was taken into custody and transported to the county prison where he was committed on the Luzerne warrant. Houssein will have charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia filed against him, police said.