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Police: Man going for a ‘smoke cruise’

Umholtz allegedly said he was smoking pot while being pulled over

A Bellwood man faces charges after state police say he was smoking marijuana as he was getting pulled over by state troopers.

It was about 10:30 p.m. Nov. 2 when two state troopers were on patrol in Antis Township and came up behind a 2017 Subaru driven by 23-year-old Aric Umholtz of Bellwood. State police said Umholtz crossed the center lines and drove into the opposite lane on Route 865 and he was pulled over on East Fourth Street.

State police said the smell of pot was wafting from the car as troopers approached, and one of the troopers could see a still-smoking marijuana pipe in the glove box as Umholtz was talking to the other trooper and reaching for his paperwork.

Police had Umholtz step out of his car and he allegedly said he had just got off work and had wanted to go for a “smoke cruise,” according to the charges. He allegedly said he was smoking pot as state police were pulling over his car.

Umholtz appeared unsteady on his feet, his speech was slurred and his eyes were red and watery, state police contend.

After Umholtz performed a series of field sobriety tests, he was arrested on suspicion of DUI and a subsequent search of the Subaru allegedly turned up six smoking devices, a silver marijuana grinder, rolling papers and a glass container of THC wax.

Umholtz was taken for a blood test, and those results showed he had THC in his system, state police noted in the charges.

Umholtz was charged by summons on Friday and is slated to appear at Tyrone District Court on Jan. 28 for a preliminary hearing.

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