SHAMOKIN - A keen eye by police and a stroke of tough luck for a city tenant led to the seizure of two marijuana plants Wednesday night.
Criminal charges of manufacture of marijuana, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia are pending against John H. Tinley Jr., 48, of 207 W. Chestnut St., Apt. 5.
Shamokin police seized the plants from Tinley's apartment along with two fluorescent lamps, 24 hypodermic needles, approximately one dozen unknown pills, cotton and a spoon, two handmade pipes and what turned out to be a plastic toy gun resembling a .22 caliber compact pistol. There were also two large bags of potting soil and about 20 individual gallon bottles of water inside, police said.
Cpl. Jarrod Scandle and Patrolman Ray Siko II were on a routine traffic stop at 10:40 p.m. at Chestnut and Coal streets, near Market Street, when the officers looked skyward and noticed a steady bright light streaming from a third floor apartment window at 207 W. Chestnut St. Upon closer observation, they noticed what turned out to be 4-foot tall marijuana plants, Siko said.
The officers scaled a fire escape and knocked at the apartment door. Tinley threw open a different window and poked his head out, Siko said. He agreed to speak with the officers, and when he pulled himself inside, the suspicious light was reportedly turned off.
Tinley was pressed about the plants after the officers were invited inside and allegedly confessed that the plants were marijuana. The marijuana was for personal use, and growing was a hobby, Tinley reportedly told Siko. Tinley signed a consent agreement for a search, leading to the discovery of the pills and paraphernalia.
Tinley was interviewed at the city police station, cooperated and was released. Charges will be filed at the office of Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III. A summons will be issued for Tinley's appearance at a preliminary hearing. Patrolmen Nate Rhodes and Scott Weaver assisted at the scene.
Tinley was sentenced in 2006 to one to two years in Northumberland County Prison and three years probation after pleading guilty to two felony counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one misdemeanor count of corruption of minors.