Abington Township Police Department Photo by James Short.
A traffic stop for no rear lighting ended with drug charges after Abington Police made the discovery in mid-December.
According to a police criminal complaint, units on patrol near Old York and Old Welsh roads in Abington Township on Dec. 13 around 3:29 a.m. witnessed a 2016 white Jeep Laredo with Pennsylvania tags driving in the area with no rear lighting illuminated. Police said the Jeep also lacked a license plate being securely fastened. Based on the violations, the police said they initiated a traffic stop.
The driver of the car was identified as Michael Miller, 44, of the 6000 block of Ogontz Avenue in Philadelphia. Abington police said that, while speaking to Miller, they detected a strong odor of marijuana inside the vehicle. According to the complaint, police then asked Miller if they could search his vehicle, and he gave them verbal consent to do so.
As a result, police said they found the following inside Miller’s car:
Police said that they took Miller into custody, placing him under arrest following the search. Upon searching his person, according to the complaint, a knotted bag of marijuana was removed from a right, front pocket.
Due to the large quantities found, the packaging materials, and amount of currency, police said they charged Miller with the possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.
Miller is charged with a felony count of possession with the intent to distribute, as well as counts of possession, having drug paraphernalia, and a lack of registration and rear lights summary offenses, among other charges. Miller was arraigned on Dec. 13 and released on a bond signature. He is due to attend a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge John. D. Kessler on Jan. 30 at 10:45 a.m.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
