New Garden Township Police: 2 recent arrests occur in inclement weather
New Garden Township officers observed a vehicle being driven erratically on southbound Newark Road on snow- and ice-covered roadways on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 1:10 a.m., police said. After the driver ignored a stop sign, officers conducted a traffic stop in the 300 block of Kelleher Drive, police said. The vehicle had an odor of marijuana, and the driver, Peter Stefanide, 18, of Landenberg, admitted to having marijuana and paraphernalia in the vehicle, turned them over to the officers, police said. Stefanide was taken into custody, processed, and released pending an appearance in district court, police said.
On Friday, Jan. 3, at 1:29 a.m. hours, New Garden officers observed a southbound vehicle on Gap Newport Pike proceed through a steady red light at the intersection of Newark Road before coming to a stop in the middle of the intersection, blocking all travel lanes, police said. The vehicle then made a right turn onto Newark Road and turned left onto Starr Road, ignoring a stop sign, police said. During a subsequent traffic stop, the driver, Robert Duncan, 27, of Cochranville, show signs of intoxication, police said, adding that field sobriety tests were not administered because heavy snow was occurring. Duncan, who was taken into custody for suspicion of driving under the influence, submitted to a chemical breath test and was released pending an appearance in district court, police said.
On Monday, Dec. 30, at 12:49 a.m. a New Garden Township officer observed a vehicle parked at the dead end of Yeatmans Station Road, police said. Upon the officer’s approach, the vehicle driver, Joseph Wynn, 18, of Kennett Square, attempted to leave but was detained, police said, adding that Wynn had bloodshot, glassy eyes. In addition, an odor of burnt marijuana emanated from the vehicle, police said. Wynn admitted to smoking a joint prior to being stopped but initially refused a search of the vehicle, police said. Wynn was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence and his two juvenile passengers were transported home to their parents, police said. Wynn submitted to a chemical test of blood and after processing and was released pending an appearance in district court, police said. A subsequent consent to search the vehicle was obtained, and officers recovered marijuana and paraphernalia, police said. Additional charges were added for possession and related offenses, police said.
On Tuesday, Dec. 31, at 10:25 pm, a New Garden police officer observed a female standing on the side of the road on Watson Mill Road near Altemus Drive, police said. Stopping to check on her welfare, the officer determined that she was attempting to help Kevin Jester, 20, of Landenberg, who exhibited obvious signs of intoxication. Jester admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages, and his condition was verified through a portable breath test, police said. Jester was cited for underage consumption of alcohol and transported home pending a summons from district court, police said.
