Cops: Speeder said he was chasing pot thief

Hazleton Times // News

June 8

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, Ryan 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.

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Santo said...

Who said smoking pot don't make you stupid>?

June 8, 2009 at 1:40 AM

Eddie M. said...

What an idiot!

June 8, 2009 at 7:22 AM

DS said...

What an idiot; so clueless that he actually gave himself away. Wow.

June 8, 2009 at 9:49 AM

Chris said...

LOL. What a genius.

June 8, 2009 at 9:52 AM

M said...

great morning laugh

June 8, 2009 at 10:36 AM

lance said...

Good thing for Him He cannot be charged for being stupid.

June 8, 2009 at 12:06 PM

CTJCCJC said...

The bigger story here is why were police stopping motorists to check if they have seat belts on? Not having your seat belt on is a secondary offense in Pa and a cop can not LEGALLY pull you over for not wearing it. Any citations/arrests that were a direct result of this road block should be thrown out immediately.

June 8, 2009 at 1:12 PM

VT guy said...

Hey was already toast. "observed a bowl" And what's up with reporters using street jargon--isn't that unprofessional? how about "pipe"

June 8, 2009 at 1:21 PM

Chris #2 said...

@Santo I've seen PLENTY of people who've never touched pot that exhibit just as much stupidity!

June 8, 2009 at 2:47 PM

PLOP said...

Noooooooooooo smoking weed doesnt make you goofy lets legalize it..... NOT

June 8, 2009 at 3:04 PM

bond,james bond said...

i still have the iphone!sucks 4 him

June 8, 2009 at 5:25 PM

Taterhater said...

Fact: Saying "NOT" after statements makes you look better than others and didn't die off 10 years ago as a socially acceptable way to work sarcasm into a conversation. Opinion: Pot and stupidity don't always go hand in hand like they do in this particular case.

June 8, 2009 at 6:23 PM

jack-o said...

There are stupid people and smart people, pot smokers and non-pot smokers. A smart person who smokes pot is still smart, a dumb person who doesn't smoke is still dumb. Anyone who has any personal experience with this will back me up on this. Anyone who doesn't has zero authority to comment.

June 8, 2009 at 6:40 PM

WhatAnIdiot said...

That's why they call it DOPE!

June 8, 2009 at 9:12 PM

LC Resident said...

CTJCCJC. You know the law but can't read. 2nd paragraph states - they stopped a vehicle they said was driving at an extremely high rate of speed and switching lanes without using turn signals. I would say that is your first violation.

June 8, 2009 at 9:20 PM

Oh Boy! said...

Well, Hazleton made the national news again with this fab story. It was on MSNBC's Keith Olbermnan news tonight. It's either dumping polluted dredge, crooked judges or idiots like this that give this place such a good name!

June 8, 2009 at 9:25 PM

hank said...

And this guy walks among you people in Hazelton I hope he does not vote

June 8, 2009 at 9:28 PM

Richard Coleman said...

Wear your seat belt and you won't have to sweat seat belt check points. Not wearing them is stupid too.

June 9, 2009 at 7:21 AM

PLOP said...

CTJCCJC...No thats not the "bigger story" here. The story is supposed to have a humorous slant to it. Did YOU get caught with some weed in a similar fashion ?

June 9, 2009 at 7:55 AM

Ziggy said...

Great candidate for the Darwin awards. I guess he would have needed to die though. Oh well.

June 9, 2009 at 8:15 AM

rock strongo said...

CTJCCJC... They stopped him for speeding, not to check seatbelts. Are you smoking pot?

June 9, 2009 at 8:27 AM

Fats-Mcgee said...

haha come on now.. he was totally just getting his product back.. come on people.. if someone stole your weed wouldnt you want to drive fast and try to get it back? haha And put the "bowl" on the front seat to smoke while you are flying down the street.. Woo this guy is a winner..

June 9, 2009 at 8:55 AM

anonymous said...

I am with CTJCCJC - seatbelt check points are stupid and this whole thing borders on unconstitutional, even if Mr. Neaus is an idiot.

June 9, 2009 at 10:14 AM

Dennis said...

Ryan is stupid.However, it was not a police objective to target drugs. So the idiot should not be charged. For Ryan,thanks for the fun. Try yet another when they set you free.

June 9, 2009 at 11:15 AM

MJT said...

"CTJCCJC said... The bigger story here is why were police stopping motorists to check if they have seat belts on? Not having your seat belt on is a secondary offense in Pa and a cop can not LEGALLY pull you over for not wearing it. Any citations/arrests that were a direct result of this road block should be thrown out immediately." I guess you missed the part where he was driving at a high rate of speed and was changing lanes with out using turn signals. BOTH are illegal so theres your primary offenses. And as for the Buckle Up program the whole concept is to make contacts with drivers to see if there actually wearing there seatbelts. ex: reg. sticker in wrong spot. There arent any road blocks. So actually there wont be any citations/arrests throw out in this situation

June 9, 2009 at 11:32 AM

Big Fella said...

I was gonna put on my seatbelt, but then I got high....

June 10, 2009 at 2:52 AM

CTJCCJC said...

I realize he was stopped for speeding but why where hundreds of other drivers stopped at an illegal check point. That IS the bigger story.

June 10, 2009 at 9:39 AM

hallie said...

the cops should have cought him after he got his pot back...:)

June 10, 2009 at 11:48 AM

pop said...

ctjccjc, I think you are the bigger story here you idiot.

June 10, 2009 at 2:14 PM

austin said...

lol wow how dum he should have said some dude robed my house and i know who it is

June 10, 2009 at 4:37 PM

Cityrefugee said...

Plot and CTJCCJC....you boys fight nice now! NOT!

June 11, 2009 at 7:27 PM

ANTINAZI said...

CHECK POINTS ARE NAZISH AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS GUY DIDNT NEED TO SMOKE POT TO BE A STUPID HUMAN AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT PEOPLE WHO ARGUE ON COMMENT BOARDS NEED TO GET A LIFE OR AT LEAST MAYBE GET A HOBBY ...MAYBE TRY SMOKING SOME POT ...HAVE A NICE DAY

June 12, 2009 at 2:34 AM

Philip Rismiller said...

CTJCCJC, you're an idiot and need to read the story again. They never said there was a checkpoint. You think you know the law, but you don't. You obviously have know idea what the Buckle Up Program is or how it's conducted. Do your homework; http://www.buckleuppa.org/

June 15, 2009 at 11:54 AM

ANTINAZI said...

CHECKPOINTS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL THERE PHILIPER!!!! NAZISH!!!

June 15, 2009 at 6:49 PM

paula said...

how stupid

June 15, 2009 at 11:51 PM