An Ohio man is behind bars after state police said they found 1 kilogram of cocaine hidden in the SUV he was driving Wednesday on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Jose O. Pacheco-Diaz, 41, of Lorain — located about 30 miles west of Cleveland — is charged with drug and weapon violations.
Troopers pulled over the Chevrolet Equinox he was driving near mile marker 99 in Donegal Township at 2:45 p.m. for a window tint violation, according to court papers. It was unclear in which direction he was traveling.
Pacheco-Diaz refused to let police search the SUV. Mingo, a Penn Township police dog, was called in and indicated narcotics were inside the vehicle, according to court papers.
Troopers said they got a search warrant and found about 1 kilogram, or 2 pounds, of cocaine hidden in a blender box. Police also reported finding a loaded pistol in the center console. Pacheco-Diaz is a convicted felon which prohibits him from possessing a firearm, according to court papers.
He was arraigned Thursday and bail was set at $500,000. Pacheco-Diaz was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison. He did not have an attorney listed in online court records. A March 11 preliminary hearing is set.
Police wrote in court papers that Pacheco-Diaz pleaded guilty in 2014 to drug and weapons violations. It was unclear where those charges were filed.
