SHENANDOAH - Some charges against a Barnesville man were dropped and others held for Schuylkill County Court on Thursday.
Edward J. Flaim, 19, of 22 Vulcan Road, who allegedly fled police during a drug buy operation last month and threatened to jump from a railroad bridge that crosses Route 54 in Mahanoy Township, appeared for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Anthony K. Kilker but no hearing was held.
The arresting officer, Mahanoy Township police Officer in Charge Brandon Alexander, withdrew charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, firearms not to be carried without a license, fleeing or attempting to elude police, simple assault and possessing instruments of crime.
Flaim waived the remaining offenses, four counts of recklessly endangering another person and one count each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, for county court.
At the request of Flaim's attorney, Joseph Nahas, Frackville, Kilker changed the bail to $25,000 unsecured from its original $25,000 straight cash set by Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, at the time of the man's arraignment.
Alexander said the Jan. 27 incident began when officers, assisted by Mahanoy City police, were conducting a drug buy operation along Vulcan Road. That operation started earlier when a confidential informant reported being able to purchase marijuana and heroin from Flaim. The informant 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 got out of their vehicles and identified themselves to Flaim, who turned and ran back toward his home.
Mahanoy City police Patrolman Jonathan McHugh followed Flaim, who refused to stop and drop what he had in his hand. McHugh saw the man throw something into brush in the area.
After throwing the object, Alexander said Flaim ran toward a railroad bridge that goes over 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 found with a large bag of what field tested positive for marijuana. When officers retraced the man's route when he ran, they found a loaded H&R .22-caliber handgun in the brush where the man was seen throwing an object.
Alexander said a subsequent search of the man's house uncovered a silver box in his room 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.