Crime & Safety
Police: Drug Suspect Had 11 Knives
Easton police say man arrested on misdemeanor marijuana charge had 11 knives with him.
A 55-year-old Wilson man is facing a misdemeanor charge for allegedly having five ziplock bags that contained suspected marijuana residue.
But it’s what James Bruch wasn't charged with that might be seen as unsual. While did a pat-down search of Bruch, they found 11 knives.
Court records do not give details about the knives. But when police asked Bruch if he had any more weapons on him, he replied, “not that I know of.”
The incident occurred on the afternoon of June 21 on the 600 block of Walnut Street in Easton. But Bruch, of 135 S. 16th St., Apt. 4, was not arraigned until Thursday night on the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
On-duty District Judge Robert Hawke of Lehigh Township committed him to in lieu of $3,000 bail.
A criminal complaint filed by Easton Patrolman Joseph Arredondo said he saw Bruch and another man walking shortly after 12:30pm on the 1000 block of Spruce Street, which he described as a “high drug/high crime area.”
”They didn’t appear to have any particular destination or purpose and routinely stopped seemingly waiting for someone – constantly looking around, up and down the streets/alleys,” Arredondo wrote.
He also said the pair was loitering near “random drug locations in the city.” At one point, they walked in the middle of the street at Walnut and Ferry streets.
Arredondo stopped them on the 600 block of Walnut Street. Bruch had no identification and said he was from out of town. The officer smelled an odor of marijuana on him and said his eyes appeared dilated.
Then he did the pat-down search and found the 11 knives and the bags with suspected marijuana residue.
The records say Bruch has been working full time at an area appliance store for three months.