DICKSON CITY - A faulty light over the license plate on a Chevrolet Blazer caused a traffic stop on Main Street that turned into a seizure of more than $20,000 worth of cocaine.
Borough police Officers Michael Fredericks and Corey Condrad stopped the Blazer in the 200 block of Main Street and explained to the driver, Ramon Vega, 2230 Edith St., Scranton, why they stopped him.
After noticing several license plates in the car, officers asked if they could look in the car. They found a pill bottle with two plastic bags filled with cocaine, Police Chief William Bilinski said.
Then the officers picked up a red sweatshirt from the back seat and noticed it was wrapped around a bag and felt heavy, Chief Bilinski said.
The weight came from the 8.5 ounces of cocaine in the bag around which the sweatshirt was wrapped, police said.
Police said the street value of all of the cocaine seized was $23,000.
Mr. Vega was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia.
He was sent to the Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 15.
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