A Jim Thorpe man has been charged with attempting to deliver methamphetamine to a gas station worker in Lehighton.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by officer Gabe Szozda of the Lehighton Borough Police Department in the case against Darren Reinart:

On Aug. 19, the Lehighton Borough Police Department was dispatched to the Exxon Fast Fill gas station along Blakeslee Boulevard Drive East for a drug investigation call.

An employee said while she was working the register, Reinart, 63, walked up to her register to pay.

During the transaction, Reinart whispered to her something along the lines of “pinch your fingers under the money” as he indiscreetly handed over the cash.

The employee noticed a clear plastic Ziploc-type packet containing a crushed, crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine.

The employee completed the transaction and immediately handed the alleged methamphetamine over to her store manager.

Upon police arrival, the store manager relinquished the packet to officer Ivan Centeno.

During the investigation, Reinart was still at the store and temporarily surrendered his Pennsylvania driver’s license that confirmed his identity.

A preliminary field test was conducted and a positive reaction for the presence of methamphetamine was observed.

The suspected methamphetamine weighed 0.4 gram.

Reinart faces charges of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, intentional possession of controlled substance by person not registered, and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.

He is currently free in lieu of $25,000 unsecured bail and is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Oct. 30 before District Judge Eric M. Schrantz of Jim Thorpe.