Man Stopped For Speeding Faces Drug Charges, Police Say

A South Whitehall man who was stopped by police for driving above the speed limit on Parkway Road is facing multiple drug charges after police allegedly found marijuana and packaging materials in a backpack in his car.

Steven Alexander Santa, 18, of 2307 Coolidge St., was driving his red Volkswagen Golf GTI at 44 mph on the 700 block of Parkway, which has a speed limit of 25 mph, according to the affidavit.

South Whitehall Township Police Officer Stacey E. Siwik wrote in the affidavit of probable cause that Santa appeared nervous and confused and she could smell marijuana while she spoke to him during the traffic stop, which took place at about 12:25 p.m. Friday.

When Siwik asked him about the odor, he handed her a metal grinder, which contained marijuana, the affidavit said. Santa told Siwik that he had smoked marijuana the previous evening.

According to the affidavit:

Police administered a field sobriety test, during which Santa was judged to be impaired. Santa said he was unemployed, but he was carrying $1,350.

A backpack in Santa’s vehicle contained one plastic bag of marijuana and four plastic wrap packages of marijuana.

The backpack also contained several other drug-related items, including a glass smoking pipe, three cigars, butane lighter refills, juicy flavored cigar wraps, a large black lighter, a plastic bag containing numerous bags with spades on them and another plastic bag containing numerous bags with “Batman” symbols on them.

“These items are for the purpose of manufacturing, processing, preparing, packing, repacking, ingesting and inhaling marijuana,” the affidavit says.

Santa was charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana, a first-class felony. He was also charged with driving under the influence of marijuana, simple possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and speeding.

He was arraigned before on-duty District Judge Wayne Maura of Bethlehem and committed to Lehigh County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.