'High' Noon? Reading Man Hit with Drug Charges During Lunch Break

A Reading man faces drug charges after East Pikeland Police say he was busted smoking pot on his lunch break in a parked car on Hares Hill Road.

Thomas Gochal, 47, was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and disorderly conduct stemming from the November 21 incident.

According to court documents, at 12:53 p.m. an East Pikeland police officer saw a car parked suspiciously, facing away from traffic, in an open lot just across from the Iron Bridge.

The officer pulled into the lot and made contact with the driver, Gochal, who explained that he was “just eating lunch.” The officer smelled marijuana and searched Gochal, who denied possessing any illegal drugs.

The officer found a white pipe in the man’s pant leg, which Gochal reluctantly admitted to having smoked marijuana from. He then told the officer he had marijuana in his possession, which he had tucked into his waistband.

Thomas Gochal faces preliminary hearing on January 10.