Crime & Safety

Traffic Stop Leads to Borough Man's Arrest

Pedro Freytes-Ferrer, 22, of the 300 block of Northampton Street, Hellertown, has been charged by Freemansburg Police with driving under the influence of a controlled substance and other offenses.

The first sign that something was amiss with Pedro Freytes-Ferrer’s black 2002 Oldsmobile Alero was that a headlight was out.

It was a Sunday night in late January and Freemansburg police Officer Jonathan Itterly began following the car as Freytes-Ferrer, 22, of Hellertown, allegedly failed to use turn signals as he drove and U-turned on streets along the Freemansburg-Bethlehem line.

According to court records, after he was stopped Freytes-Ferrer was found to be driving with a license suspended for "DUI-related offenses" and refused to take a blood test to check for intoxication at the Bethlehem DUI Center.

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After stopping the car, Itterly was also struck by a strong odor of burnt marijuana coming from the Olds, according to the records, which indicate that Freytes-Ferrer’s eyes were "heavy and bloodshot." When the officer asked him about the odor, Freytes-Ferrer allegedly said he did not smoke any marijuana.

According to the records, Freytes-Ferrer eventually changed his story, admitting that he and his male passenger smoked marijuana about 20 minutes before the traffic stop. The passenger was identified in a criminal complaint but not listed as being charged with anything.

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When the officer asked Freytes-Ferrer for his registration and insurance card, the driver "seemed confused" and had trouble finding the documents, according to the records.

On Friday, Freytes-Ferrer, of 338 Northampton St., was charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance, blood-alcohol .02 percent or greater–second offense, and violation of the law governing the condition of lamps and switches.

He was arraigned by District Judge Jackie Taschner of Palmer Township and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $2,500 bail.

Freytes-Ferrer has a previous record of arrests, according to articles published on Hellertown-Lower Saucon Patch.

In April 2012 he was charged by Hellertown Police with "False ID to Law Enforcement," a third degree misdemeanor. And in December 2012, he was arrested in the 300 block of Main Street, Hellertown, for possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension. At the time, police said he was also wanted by Upper Saucon Township Police in connection with a "road rage incident."


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