Crime & Safety

Police: Driver Flees After Traffic Stop; Warrant Issued

A pound of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found during a routine traffic stop, East Pikeland Police said.

A warrant has been issued for a Phoenixville man’s arrest after East Pikeland Police said he fled a traffic stop in which a large quantity of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found.

Police said they stopped a vehicle on the 400 block of Schulkill Road around 12:20 a.m. Thursday, June 19, because the license plate light was out. Officers said they could smell marijuana coming from the car. When questioned, the driver, James Vaughan, 22, of the 400 block of Emmett Street in Phoenixville, admitted to smoking marijuana 15 minutes prior, and turned over a marijuana pipe, police said.

Police said they attempted to handcuff Vaughan but he took off running. Officers followed, police said, but they lost him in a wooded area.

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Meanwhile, an inventory search of the vehicle yielded one pound of suspected marijuana, which police said has a street value of about $6,000.

Police said both Vaughan and his passenger, Rebecca Lynn Ballard, 20, of the 500 block of Elm Avenue in Phoenixville, were charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance; resisting arrest; disorderly conduct and other related charges.

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Ballard spent the night in Pottstown Jail, police said, and was released Thursday morning on $25,000 unsecured bail after her arraignment.

A warrant has been issued for Vaughan’s arrest.


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