Man Carrying Bag of Drugs Tried to Run, Police Say

A South Bethlehem man was carrying cocaine and marijuana when he tried to run away from city police during a traffic stop made when an officer spotted him driving a mini-van with a busted headlight, according to court papers.

As a result, Francis Perez Jr., 28, of 1140 Amplex St. is facing multiple charges, including drug possession, drunk driving and other traffic violations.

Officer James Hoffman spotted Perez’s maroon Honda Odyssey with a failing headlight on the 500 block of Broadway at a little before 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

The minivan pulled into the parking lot of Ahart’s Market, 410 Montclair Ave., after Hoffman activated his police cruiser siren and light bar.

But then traffic stop took an unusual turn, as the affidavit goes on to explain:

• Perez stepped out of his minivan, carrying a light blue pull-cord bag, turned to look at the police car behind him and ran away.
• Another officer at the scene pursued Perez on foot and observed as the accused jumped over a black metal fence at 436 Montclair Ave.
• Other officers arriving on scene spotted Perez near the parking lot of the Wendy’s, across the street from Ahart’s. He was no longer holding the bag.
• After obtaining Perez’s photo identification card, police discovered that he had multiple warrants out of Northampton County and that he had a suspended driver’s license.
• The officer who pursued Perez on foot found the light blue bag hanging on the metal fence at 436 Montclair Ave.
• The bag contained a clear plastic sandwich bag that contained a substance that field tested positive for cocaine, a clear plastic sandwich bag containing two more plastic bags that contained marijuana, a digital scale, a box of more sandwich bags, loose sandwich bags, a silver metal grinder and two Bluntville cigars.
• Hoffman wrote that Perez smelled of beer and that his eyes were glassy. Perez consented to have his blood tested.

Perez was charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine and marijuana—a first-class felony, simple drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, escape, DUI, driving without a license and driving with a broken headlight.

He was arraigned before night duty District Judge David Tidd of Lower Saucon Township and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.