Two facing drug charges after traffic stop

Two people were cited after a traffic stop in Coaldale on March 20.

An officer was on patrol at 9:26 p.m. when he saw a white Subaru with a nonworking passenger side headlight, being operated on East Phillips Street. The officer conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as Shirley Mae Hazlett, 29, of 221 Green St., Tamaqua. A passenger in the car was identified as Taylor Nikolas Wolfgang, 28, of 101 W. Rowe St., Tamaqua.

Wolfgang appeared to be under the influence of something, with his eyes twitching and darting side to side. Both occupants said there was nothing illegal in the car. When asked about the large number of CO2 cartridges spilling from a book bag on the passenger side floor, Wolfgang said they were for his air gun. He consented to having the book bag searched, then admitted having a glass pipe which he had used to smoke methamphetamine earlier in the day.

Hazlett also agreed to allow police to conduct a search. An uncapped hypodermic needle was found inside her rainbow-colored pouch. Also found in her possession were a capped hypodermic needle, a metal spoon with burned residue and a cotton ball.

Both were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.