After eluding police officers for several weeks, fugitive Gage Wood was captured by members of the Old Lycoming Township Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force at 1043 Isabella St., where he allegedly was staying. Officers say they were led to the house after receiving an anonymous tip.
Wood, 18, whose last known address was 913 Poplar St., faces four felony counts of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and ecstasy, two felony counts of criminal use of a communications facility, two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Officers believe Wood and an accomplice broke into a house along Deckman Hollow Road on Nov. 9.
Wood also will face felony charges brought by the Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police Department, according to reports.
On Nov. 10, Wood managed to elude an intense police manhunt, which took place near Colvin and Deckman Hollow Roads in Old Lycoming Township. During the chase, Wood exited his girlfriend's moving car and hid in the woods, according to reports.
Although officers were not able to take Wood into custody, they captured his girlfriend, McKenzie Rose Morean. Morean, 18, faces a felony charge of hindering apprehension and prosecution. She is incarcerated in lieu of $75,000.
Wood's drug charges stem from an incident that took place on July 22 in the city when Old Lycoming police were dispatched to Bottle Run Road for a noise complaint.
When officers arrived, they spotted a group of people standing outside a residence near a firearms target. The group scattered and ran off into the woods when they noticed the approaching police car, according to reports.
After speaking with Wood, officers told the group to return to their residences and not come back that evening.
As Wood attempted to drive home on his motorcycle, police noticed a black draw-string bag hanging from the handlebars. Officers recalled that they had interviewed Wood in connection with a drug investigation in Jersey Shore in early July.
When questioned, Wood denied ownership of the bag, according to police.
A search of the bag allegedly revealed a "large amount" of ecstasy and marijuana, a digital scale, small plastic bags, a stun gun and a grinder. Police also confiscated about $1,000 and two cellphones.
After being arrested, Wood allegedly admitted that the bag was his property. He also told police "that he sells drugs - both marijuana and ecstasy," and that he used his cellphones to arrange the sales, according to court records.
According to police, other witnesses have come forward to testify that they have purchased drugs from Wood in the past.
Wood was arraigned before District Justice James G. Carn on Monday. He remains incarcerated in lieu of $100,000 bail.
