Two are facing charges in Ross incident

Two people are facing charges as a result of an incident at 1:35 p.m. March 21 along Meixsell Valley Road, near Old State Route 115, in Ross Township.

State police at Lehighton said a 46-year-old Saylorsburg man and a 41-year-old East Stroudsburg woman were taken into custody and transported to the state police barracks where they refused chemical testing. Police expect to file charges of driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance against them.

Police said the incident started when they were dispatched to a situation where a vehicle was in a ditch. Upon arrival, police provided traffic control while the vehicle was being pulled from the ditch.

Police said they observed a vehicle pass a stopped vehicle and begin to travel in the opposite lane of travel toward the marked state police vehicle. The vehicle was being driven by the Saylorsburg man. Upon stopping the vehicle, police said they immediately detected the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Upon speaking with the man, he exited the vehicle and police then detected an odor of alcohol on his breath, after which time police said the man admitted to drinking.

Police said the woman was a passenger in the vehicle. She jumped into the driver’s seat, and police ordered her to stop and not leave the scene.

Police said while they attempted to get the woman to get out of the vehicle, the man was making furtive movements and failed to follow instructions while walking toward the officer and the woman while she was attempting to leave the scene. Police said while they tried to detain the man, he attempted to pull away but was ultimately detained.

Police said the woman fled the scene and then returned and admitted to having been drinking.

Police took the couple into custody and had the vehicle impounded.