8 motorists face DUI-related charges
A missing brake light and weaving his car in a travel lane were the reasons Christopher Welch, 36, of 345 Allegheny St., apartment 1, Jersey Shore, was stopped by a state trooper at the East Third Street interchange of Interstate 180 about 11:30 p.m. on July 5.
A blood test revealed there was marijuana and other drugs in Welch’s system when he was stopped, police said. Charged with driving under the influence of controlled substance, recklessly endangering another person (there was a passenger in the vehicle), possession of methamphetamines and possession of drug paraphernalia, Welch has since waived his preliminary hearing before District Judge Gary Whiteman and is free on $5,000 bail.
Michael Moran, 42, of Niles, Illinois, refused to provide a blood sample after a state trooper stopped his 2015 Ford Explorer at West Fourth and Maynard streets in the city about 12:20 a.m. July 4. The trooper said he “could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from Moran’s breath.” Charged with DUI and careless driving, Moran has been sent a summons to appear before District Judge Christian Frey.
Shane Fairfax, 33, of 12 Terrace Lane, also refused to provide a blood sample when a state trooper stopped his pickup truck at Hillside Avenue and Fairview Terrace in the city about 2:40 a.m. also on July 4. The trooper stopped the vehicle because the license plate was expired. Fairfax, who admitted to smoking marijuana earlier in the day, has been sent a summons to appear before Frey. Court records state this was his third DUI arrest.
Justin Campbell, 32, of 459 Lower Grays Run Road, Trout Run, was charged by state police with DUI, disorderly conduct and harassment following an incident near East Third Street and Northway Road in Loyalsock Township about 12:10 a.m. on July 2.
Troopers were dispatched to the area because Campbell “repeatedly maneuvered his car in front of another motorist who was trying to leave her place of employment,” but his alleged actions blocked her from leaving, according to an affidavit.
When the troopers arrived, Campbell was still in his car, but he soon got out and became “belligerent and argumentative,” court papers state. His blood-alcohol content level that night was .13, police said. He is free on $5,000 bail.
Patrick Moriarity, 61, of 1151 Torbert Lane, Jersey Shore, was charged with DUI and careless driving for having a blood-alcohol content level of .25 following an incident in the 1100 block of Memorial Avenue on June 28. He is free on $5,000 bail.
Michael Pfleegor, 34, of 4020 Route 287, Salladasburg, had a blood-alcohol content level of .20 when he was caught trespassing on private property at 681 Rakestraw Road in Fairfield Township while driving a 2010 Jeep Liberty about 1:20 a.m. on June 21, according to state police. Charged with DUI, trespass by motor vehicle and careless driving, Pfleegor admitted to drinking six or seven beers earlier, police said. He is free on $5,000 bail.
Tracy Wood, 53, of 730 Poplar St., had a blood-alcohol content level of .22 when a state trooper stopped his 2005 Chevrolet Equinox on Dewey Avenue in the city on June 13 because its inspection expired two years ago. He showed “a high probability of being impaired” while undergoing a series of field sobriety tests, the trooper said. Charged with DUI and careless driving, Wood waived his preliminary hearing this week and is free on $5,000 bail.
Roger Tabler 3rd, 22, of Manchester, Maryland, has been charged with DUI after a blood test came back showing he had a blood-alcohol content level of .16 when a state trooper stopped his 2017 Subaru Legacy at West Fourth and Hepburn streets in the city because he was driving without his headlights on about 1:15 a.m. on June 6. He waived his preliminary hearing before District Judge Aaron Biichle and is free on $5,000 bail.