Tamaqua man facing drug counts

A Tamaqua man has been charged with drug related offenses following a Nov. 3 incident in the area of Schickram's Car Wash, Washington and Rose streets, Tamaqua.

Police on patrol at 8:10 p.m. observed a black Ford pick up truck parked in the northern most bay of the car wash. The lights were on and two people were inside the vehicle. After waiting awhile to see if the occupants were going to use the car wash, Sgt. Richard Weaver approached the truck and spoke with the driver, George J. Bonetsky, 32, of 214 Brown St., Tamaqua. Bonetsky had a large wad of cash in his hand and appeared to be extremely nervous.

He agreed to allow the officer to search his truck and agreed to empty his pockets. At first Bonetsky took only cash from his pockets, including large denomination bills. Then, after some prompting, he came up with two lighters. Weaver noticed plastic protruding from Bonetsky's clenched fist and discovered it was a clear plastic bag containing 12 smaller, clear plastic bags containing a crystalline type substance. A zipper top bag containing additional crystalline substances was found inside the truck, hidden in a cigarette box on the center console. The substances were field tested by Tamaqua Patrolman Anthony Stanell, testing positive for methamphetamine.

Officers took Bonetsky and his wife (the passenger in the truck) into custody, as well as approximately 17 grams of meth, a white metal pipe with residue and $1,856 in cash. The truck was impounded and towed to a secure facility.

Mrs. Bonetsky was released. Bonetsky was charged with a felony count of possession with intent to deliver and misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.