Bethlehem Faces Heroin Charges in Easton

Easton police have charged a Bethlehem man for an incident in late October – he was stopped in his car after a report of shots fired on the South Side and found to have 45 packets of heroin, court records say.

The records also say the suspect, Stephen Pearson, 21, was prohibited from driving because of an agreement under a program for first-time offenders. Pearson was facing a charge of driving under the influence.

Pearson, of 2304 East Blvd., was nervous and his hands were shaking when stopped, the records say.

The charges against Pearson – involving drugs and traffic violations – have nothing to do with shots fired, according to the records.

City Patrolman Eric Campbell writes in a criminal complaint:

Around 4:20am on Oct. 26, a Friday, reports came in for shots fired on the 300 block of W. St. Joseph Street. The reports also said that people possibly involved were fleeing.

Campbell spotted a gray 2009 four-door Honda Accord westbound on W. Lincoln Street at Seitz Street. The car appeared to be speeding. He then saw that the car failed to make a complete stop at West Lincoln and Centre streets and failed to display a turn signal.

Campbell executed a traffic stop at Centre and Williams streets and spoke to the driver – Pearson – who was alone. Pearson showed the officer a Pennsylvania photo ID card. He said his driver’s license was suspended for DUI.

While speaking, Pearson “appeared very nervous to the extent that his hands were shaking and his leg was bouncing.”

Pearson got out of the car and allowed Campbell to check for weapons. The officer felt what he “knew” to be a small bag of marijuana in Pearson’s right front coat pocket. He asked Pearson what the object was and he said he didn’t know, but gave Campbell permission to remove it.

It turned out to be marijuana. Once Pearson was arrested and searched again, Campbell found 27 wax paper bags in a pocket on the inside of his jacket. A search of the car turned up an additional 18 bags. All the bags contained heroin.

An arrest warrant for Pearson was approved Nov. 9. He was taken into custody Wednesday and arraigned at 6pm Wednesday on the following charges:

Possession of a controlled substance (heroin) with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana for personal use, driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked, turning movement and required signals, and stop signs and yield signs.

On-duty District Judge Todd Strohe of Bangor, who arraigned Pearson, sent him to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.