A Lehighton man has been charged with selling methamphetamine to an informant.

According to the affidavit of probable cause in the case against Edward Savage, which was filed by officer Gabe Szozda of the Lehighton Borough Police Department and Ian Urbanski of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General:

During the investigation, it was determined that Savage, 45, known as “Ace,” was a trafficker of methamphetamine.

The informant indicated that Savage would use a cellphone number to set up drug deals by meeting the buyer to get money, traveling somewhere to get drugs, and then returning to give the drugs to the buyer.

On Aug. 7, police and task force officers from the Carbon County Drug Task Force met with the informant to set up a controlled drug purchase.

The informant arranged to meet Savage on a patio with a roof along North Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard to exchange money for methamphetamine.

The informant was given $200 prerecorded Office of Attorney General funds for about 8.5 grams of methamphetamine.

At 6:10 p.m., the informant was dropped off at the location. At 6:38 p.m., Savage was seen walking to the informant and taking the money from him.

Savage was entering businesses before he walked to the Summit and First Street area in Lehighton, where authorities lost sight of him.

Over the next two hours, the informant made repeated calls and text messages to Savage, to which Savage either did not respond or stated that he was in the process of obtaining the methamphetamine.

The informant eventually requested that Savage return with the money due to him.

The informant was picked up around 9:30 p.m. without Savage ever returning.

Around noon Aug. 8, an arrest warrant was obtained for Savage after he failed to respond to the informant about taking the money and not returning it.

At 1:51 p.m., Savage contacted the informant and arranged to exchange the drugs. At 2:55 p.m., the informant met the suspect in the park in Lehighton, walked to an alley and obtained about 8 grams of crystal methamphetamine provided by Savage.

Savage told police he was delivering the methamphetamine to the informant because he was “returning it” after Savage stated he “found it on a trail.”

Savage also stated that “no money was exchanged.”

When an agent reminded Savage about the $200 provided to him the day before, Savage laughed and said, “OK, you got me this time.”

Savage faces charges on two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, and one count each of delivery of a controlled substance and criminal use of communication facility.

He is currently incarcerated in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000, 10% monetary bail, and scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge Eric M. Schrantz of Jim Thorpe.