Schuylkill County man faces drug charges after traffic stop
Heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, a digital scale, hypodermic needles and $3,516 were found after a traffic stop in Saint Clair Wednesday.
State police at Frackville charged Joseph Robert Gibas, 51, of New Philadelphia, and with manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, two counts of intent to possess a controlled substance when not registered to do so, and one count each of possessing a small amount of marijuana for personal use, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a vehicle without a valid inspection, driving with a driver’s license suspended or revoked for second driving under the influence, driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance and displaying a registration plate or card in vehicle not issued.
Gibas was arraigned by Magisterial District David Plachko on $100,000 straight cash bail. He is in Schuylkill County Prison unable to post bail.
Trooper Michael Owens said during his arraignment Gibas had “under a quarter pound of meth,” when arrested.
Gibas admitted not having a properly registered vehicle.
“Your car is like a neon light going down the highway,” Plachko told Gibas.
“Not too smart, your honor,” Gibas said.
Police said they initiated the traffic stop after seeing Gibas make a left turn onto Route 61 South from Terry Rich Boulevard after noticing an expired inspection sticker.
When stopped, Gibas identified himself, said he didn’t have a license, and said there was nothing illegal in the vehicle, which police determined to be false. After a records check of the plate, Gibas was ordered out of the car. He later performed a field sobriety test where Owens determined he was “under the influence of a controlled substance” and unable to safely operate a vehicle. He also had “glassy, bloodshot eyes and displayed droopy eyelids.”
Police say Gibas had a zipper bag on him when arrested that he admitted contained heroin.
He then said there was methamphetamine in the car. After granted permission, police found a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in a backpack, court documents show. Inside another zipper bag in the car, police found “several clear plastic bags of suspected methamphetamine” and money held together with a paper clip.
An electric scale with “white, powder residue” was also found, along with two clear plastic bags with an “apple” logo, containing several smaller plastic bags, documents show. Hypodermic needles were also found in the car.
Police say tests on the suspected methamphetamine and marijuana came back positive.