Elihu Robert Blackmon III
Credit: Newtown Township police
A 28-year-old Albuquerque, New Mexico, man was arraigned months after Newtown Township police issued a warrant for his arrest.
Elihu Robert Blackmon III was arraigned Saturday via video before on-call District Judge Mark Douple on charges of possession with intent to deliver, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, and related offenses. He was sent to the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10 percent of $150,000 bail.
Newtown Township police filed a warrant for Blackmon on January 2 relating to a December 2017 incident where officers investigating a loitering and prowling call in the area of Providence Court and Twining Bridge Road early in the morning. They found a rented Hertz van on Swamp Road near Providence Court and conducted a traffic stop.
Two men were inside – Christian Leo Abell, 22, of San Diego, and Blackmon – and the van had a “strong odor” of marijuana emanating from inside, police said.
Officers investigated further and allegedly found suspected marijuana and more than $19,000 cash inside. A further search led to the alleged discovery of 30 to 40 pounds of marijuana, more than 700 marijuana vaporizers and $80,000 in additional cash, police said.
The suspected drugs were found inside a number of wrapped Christmas presents and pieces of luggage, police said.
Abell is set to face trial in September for on drug-related offenses.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
