Crime & Safety
Coplay Teen Arrested with Sock Full of Pot
Accused drug dealer tells police he sells marijuana to pay mom's medical expenses.
A 19-year-old Coplay man admitted to Bethlehem police Tuesday night that he is selling marijuana to help pay for his mother’s health problems, according to court records that did not specify the nature of the problems.
Also, the girlfriend of the suspect, Israel Martinez, told police all the drugs and drug paraphernalia found on the scene belonged to her boyfriend, the records say.
Martinez, of 10 N. Front St., Apt. B9, was taken into custody in the parking lot of the , 120 W. 3rd St., after police arrived at about 11:06pm.
The records also say:
Police smelled a strong odor of raw marijuana coming from the area of Martinez’s red Kia, which is registered to his mother. Police found a white sock in a bush near the front bumper. It contained 35 small zip-lock bags each filled with marijuana and a small sandwich bag with more marijuana.
Before police discovered the marijuana-filled sock, Martinez said he had locked his keys in his car. Police then spotted a zip-lock bag with marijuana on the front passenger seat. Martinez said “it was just the stems from some old marijuana.”
Police searched Martinez and found a digital scale and $110 in his right jacket pocket.
Also present was Martinez’s girlfriend and her car, a Nissan. She gave police consent to search her car. They found two large bags containing numerous smaller zip-lock bags in the center conceal area.
Martinez was charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana and possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia. He was arraigned early Wednesday by on-duty District Judge Robert Hawke of Lehigh Township and committed to Northampton County Prison after failing to post $50,000 bail.
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