SHENANDOAH - A 31-year-old Shoemakersville man was jailed Tuesday after being arrested by Shenandoah police and charged with having almost two pounds of marijuana.
Frank J. Dagostino III, 125 Ridge Road, was arraigned on one felony charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one misdemeanor count each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Patrolman Kirk Kirkland arrested Dagostino and charged him in connection with an incident on East Cherry Street about 4:45 p.m.
Kirkland said he turned onto East Cherry Street from South Main Street and saw Dagostino trying to open the door of a vehicle parked on the south of the street.
Kirkland said he approached Dagostino nearby in the 200 block of South Market Street and the man told him he was checking to see if his friend was home.
After checking for warrants, Kirkland said he released Dagostino and drove off but, after going around the block and turning back onto East Cherry Street, saw Dagostino leaving from the back of the same car putting on a black backpack.
After seeing him, Kirkland said Dagostino lowered his head and walked quickly down South Market Street.
Kirkland told Dagostino to stop but he ran into the woods.
Kirkland said he and Patrolman Travis Bowman left their cruiser and followed Dagostino whom Bowman arrested in the area of 120 S. Bower St.
Dagostino said he was "not taking the hit for what was in the backpack."
At the police station, Kirkland said the backpack was found to hold about 29.6 ounces of marijuana in separate baggies, a digital scale and a box of sandwich bags.
On Dagostino, Kirkland said he found $213 in his right pants pocket, loose change in his pockets and $60 in his wallet.
Dagostino was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $50,000 straight cash bail.
Dagostino will now have to appear before a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.