Palmerton man had marijuana on him during traffic stop

A Palmerton man has been charged with drug possession after he was found with marijuana during a vehicle stop.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by officer Brian White of the Palmerton Borough Police Department:

On Jan. 25, White was dispatched to be on the lookout for a silver Honda Civic that had just been involved in a hit-and-run in Mahoning Township.

White was told that the driver turned onto Route 248 east, so White set up there and spotted a vehicle matching the description.

White initiated a traffic stop on the Honda on the Palmerton exit ramp.

The driver was identified from his Pennsylvania driver’s license to be Roman Tatarinowicz, 24.

White asked Tatarinowicz about the hit-and-run in Mahoning Township, and Tatarinowicz said he left the scene because he had no insurance on the vehicle.

He said he had a glass pipe which he used to smoke marijuana. He handed White the pipe, which had burned residue inside and had a strong odor of marijuana.

White checked the registration and it showed that it had expired in November.

Paul Strohl was called to tow the vehicle from the scene, and White transported Tatarinowicz to his residence.

Tatarinowicz faces charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, and not having proper certification and insurance.

He is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. March 27 before District Judge William Kissner of Palmerton.