Abington Township Police Department Photo by James Short.
David Chau, 32, of Philadelphia, is facing multiple felony charges after a traffic stop in Abington Township led to the discovery of drugs and a firearm, according to police.
The incident occurred on Nov. 5 at 8:46 p.m. at the intersection of Old York Road and Rockwell Road, when officers observed a white Chevy Malibu traveling southbound on the concrete median strike a flower bed, causing the vehicle lift off the ground and land nearly 50 feet away, authorities said.
As officers approached, the driver, later identified as Chau, attempted to exit the car while wearing a crossbody bag, a style commonly associated with concealing firearms, police said. Officers instructed Chau to remain in the vehicle, noting he appeared to be trying to distance himself from it.
Police reported a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Chau was detained and placed in handcuffs. He told officers that his identification was inside the bag he was wearing and gave permission for them to retrieve it. Inside, officers instead discovered a large amount of money, later counted at $16,050.35, bundled in stacks of $1,000 secured with rubber bands. According to police, he told officers that he needed they money to pay his landlord.
Currency Breakdown:
Chau claimed his inability to see through his “heavy windshield tint” caused the crash.
Chau declined voluntary consent for a vehicle search, and the car was towed to a secure location.
Search Warrant Uncovers Large Quantities of Drugs and Firearm
On Nov. 6 at 4:33 p.m., a search warrant for the Chevy Malibu was approved, which uncovered a substantial amount of narcotics, packaging materials, and a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Items recovered from the vehicle:
From a gray Nike backpack:
1 “CR” digital scale
3 Mylar bags containing ~1 ounce of marijuana each
1 clear Ziploc bag with six knotted clear bags containing a crystal-like substance (suspected methamphetamine)
1 Mylar bag containing suspected methamphetamine
1 knotted clear bag containing suspected cocaine
1 knotted clear bag containing 14 small pink Ziploc bags with suspected crack cocaine
1 clear Ziploc bag containing 65 green rectangular pills and 8 fragmented pills (suspected alprazolam)
1 knotted clear bag containing 10 diamond-shaped tablets and 2 fragmented tablets
1 Chevy car key
1 unopened pack of razor blades
Pill bottle containing various amounts of assorted pills
1 Mylar bag containing suspected marijuana
1 FN FNX-9 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number, found in the center console
Police said the packaging, variety, and quantity of drugs were consistent with street-level narcotics distribution, and the manner in which the marijuana was prepared also aligned with distribution activity.
Further investigation revealed that Chau does not possess a Pennsylvania concealed carry permit and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior robbery convictions.
Chau has been charged with four felonies related to narcotics offenses, and firearms violations, according to documents.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 20, 2025, at 11:15 am before Judge John D. Kessler.
Bail was set at $99,000.00.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
