Police: Coatesville driver’s vehicle well-stocked for marijuana sales
Jose Luis Ortiz, 36, of Coatesville, faces multiple drug charges following a traffic stop in Westtown Township.
A non-operable taillight put police on the trail of a Coatesville driver, who ended up with multiple drug charges, according to the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department.
Police said an officer on patrol Thursday at 9:43 a.m. observed a 2000 Chevy Tahoe on West Chester Pike at North Chester Road in Westtown Township with one rear tail lamp out. The officer conducted a vehicle stop in the parking lot of Ss. Simon and Jude Church and detected an odor of marihuana coming from the vehicle, police said.
The driver, Jose Luis Ortiz, 36, admitted to having marijuana on his person, and he was placed under arrest and his vehicle secured, police said. During a search of the Chevy Tahoe, police seized approximately one pound of marihuana, packaging material, a digital scale, and records related to the trafficking of illegal controlled substance, police said.
Ortiz faces charges that include possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia as well as a traffic violation, police said. He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge William Kraut who set bail at $10,000 cash, which Ortiz was unable to post, police said. Ortiz was sent to Chester County Prison to await a preliminary hearing on May 28, police said.
