I-81 traffic stop leads to drug bust
BY MICHAEL J. RUDOLF
Wyoming County Press Examiner
CLIFFORD - A traffic stop on Interstate 81 in Lenox Township last week led to the arrest of a New York man for allegedly possessing two pounds of marijuana.
Edward Irizarry, 27, of Far Rockaway, N.Y., is charged with possession with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.
On Tuesday, Irizarry waived his preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Suzanne Brainard, and the charges were sent to Susquehanna County Common Pleas Court.
According to the criminal complaint, on Feb. 26 at 5:33 p.m., state police Trooper Paul Lindsay observed a car move from the left lane of the highway into the right lane, causing a traffic hazard. Lindsay pulled over the car, which was being driven by Xavier Pettiford of Elmira, N.Y.
Irizarry was a passenger in the car.
Lindsay said he detected the faint odor of marijuana coming from the car.
After giving Pettiford a warning for the traffic violation, Lindsay asked if he could search the vehicle. Pettiford consented.
Lindsay and Trooper T.J. Horan searched the car and found about two pounds of raw marijuana in the trunk.
Pettiford and Irizarry were both handcuffed and questioned. Irizarry admitted to troopers that the marijuana was his, and said Pettiford had no knowledge of the drugs.
Irizarry is in the Susquehanna County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.
