Tamaqua drug cases

Tamaqua Police released information on several recent cases involving illegal drugs.

• Josh Binder, 19, of East Broad Street in Tamaqua, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct on Aug. 24. Officers found Binder and two other men in a wooded area near Elm and Columbia streets after a call about a suspicious person. Several bags located within the campsite were searched, with officers recovering three knives, a baggie containing methamphetamine, a cellphone covered with a white substance and a scale.

• Nicholas James Tipton, 39, of Boyertown, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia on Sept. 1. Police were called to the area of the Tamaqua Train Station at 9:13 p.m. for suspicious activity. They found Tipton, who admitted having a hypodermic needle in a bag in his front pocket. The bag also contained a tourniquet, a case with two baggies and a second needle.

• Two Philadelphia men, Joshua Claupein, 23, and Jordan Gregory Westerfer, 21, were charged with disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana after an incident at 4:34 a.m. on Sept. 2. Officers went to the area of Hazle and Columbia streets for a report of suspicious activity and found the men sitting on the curb. An odor of marijuana wafted in the air. Each man had a marijuana blunt, which they gave to the officer.

• Phillip George Brinich, 38, of East Elm Street, Tamaqua, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia on Aug. 23. Police received a call about suspected drug activity in the area of the Tamaqua Train Station at 10:26 p.m. A witness saw Brinich prepare to inject himself with a needle and confronted him. Brinich left the area but was found minutes later in the area of Rolling Mill Avenue and Biddle Street. He dropped the syringe into the sewer system, but admitted possessing it to police.