MAHANOY CITY - A 19-year-old Barnesville man who fled police Sunday night and threatened to jump from a railroad bridge that crosses Route 54 in Mahanoy Township is in Schuylkill County Prison.
Edward J. Flaim, 22 Vulcan Road, was arraigned early Monday morning on charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and firearms not to be carried without a license, both felony offenses, as well as misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, fleeing or attempting to elude police, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and possessing instruments of crime.
Brandon Alexander, Mahanoy Township police officer in charge, said the incident began at 10:50 p.m. Sunday when officers, assisted by police from Mahanoy City, were conducting a drug-buy operation along Vulcan Road in the township.
The operation began earlier when a confidential informant said he could buy marijuana and heroin from Flaim. The informant then called Flaim, who agreed to meet on the road that leads to his residence, Alexander said.
The informant, accompanied by police, went to Vulcan Road to meet with Flaim who began walking toward the informant with an object in his hand that appeared to be a gun.
Alexander said officers immediately left their vehicles and identified themselves to Flaim, who turned and ran back toward his home. Mahanoy City police Patrolman Jonathan McHugh followed Flaim, whom he saw throw something into brush in the area.
After throwing the object, Alexander said Flaim ran toward a railroad bridge that crosses Route 54 at the top of the Vulcan Hill, climbed onto the bridge and threatened several times to jump.
Police were able to talk Flaim out of jumping and took him into custody without incident, Alexander said.
Flaim was searched and was found with a large bag of marijuana. When officers retraced the man's steps, they found a loaded H&R .22-caliber handgun in the brush where the man was seen throwing an object.
Alexander said he called Flaim's mother, with whom he resides, who came to the Mahanoy City police station where her son was being held and consented to have her home searched. He said Kimberly Flaim was told that her son had a large amount of narcotics in his room and she agreed to have her home searched.
Alexander said the woman asked police to go to her home and get all of the illegal drugs out and since her son does not pay rent and she wants him out of the house.
Alexander said he and McHugh went to Flaim's room and found a large silver box that contained a large bag of marijuana, two packets of white glassine bags, several packets of multiple and single bags used for repackaging narcotics and a large scale with green leafy residue on it. A loaded .32-caliber semi-automatic pistol was also in the box.
After being read his Miranda Rights, Alexander said Flaim admitted ownership of the marijuana, weapons and other items.
Flaim was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, and committed to prison unable to post $25,000 straight cash bail.
