Man in Park Had 19 Bags of Pot, Say Police

A man found by Palmer Township police sitting at a picnic table at Old Orchard Park Monday afternoon is a “known distributor” of marijuana and the subject of residents’ complaints, court records say.

Michael Wayne Melise Jr., 20, of 134 E. Nesquehoning St., Easton, also had a “large amount” of marijuana on him and in a backpack that was on the picnic table, the records say.

And when police asked him if he had any illegal substances or weapons on him, Melise said “just take me to jail” as he removed three baggies of marijuana from a sweatshirt pocket.

Police also found $447 in cash on Melise. That was after he told them he was “homeless and jobless,” the records say.

The total amount of the confiscated marijuana was in 19 small baggies, each weighing .02 ounces; two large baggies, each weighing 1 ounce, and four medium baggies, each weighing .10 ounces.

The records do not give a dollar value for the marijuana.

Palmer Det. James Alercia writes in a criminal complaint that he and township Officer Brent Lear were patrolling the southern part of the township because of residents’ complaints about drug dealing.

Around 1:50pm, they saw a man later identified as Melise sitting at the picnic table under a pavilion at Old Orchard Park on Baldwin Drive.

Alercia recognized him as Melise because of “numerous complaints” from residents dating back to July 2012. Both officers detected an odor of marijuana coming from Melise.

They found most of the marijuana in the black backpack on the picnic table. They also found the $447 and a Diablo brand digital scale.

Melise was charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was arraigned by District Judge Roy Manwaring of Bethlehem and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.