Posted: June 8
Updated: Today at 6:40 AM
Cops: Speeder said he was chasing pot thief

Times Leader staff

WEST HAZLETON – Police say a man they arrested in a traffic stop told them he was speeding because he was chasing someone who stole marijuana from him.

While borough police were conducting “Buckle Up” – a special grant program to target drivers not using seat belts late Friday night, they stopped a vehicle they said was driving at an extremely high rate of speed and switching lanes without using turn signals.

During a traffic stop, police say they observed a glass bowl used for smoking marijuana on the front seat in plain view. Police also found 15 individually packaged baggies of marijuana and 13 ecstasy pills during a search of the vehicle.

Police say the driver, Ryah Neaus, 21, of 824 Seybert St., Hazleton, told them he was speeding “because he was chasing the person who just robbed him of his Apple iPhone and three bags of marijuana.”Neaus was charged with possession with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.

He was also cited with careless driving and failure to wear a seatbelt.