Lower Providence man jailed for drug activity

The judge recommended that Merlo be incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution at Chester in Delaware County, which offers drug treatment programs for inmates.

An investigation of Merlo began about 1:54 a.m. when Towamencin police conducted a traffic stop of a Cadillac sedan, operated by Merlo, who was traveling northbound on Valley Forge Road with an expired registration sticker and had crossed the double yellow traffic lines, according to court documents. During the traffic stop Merlo told police his license was suspended and police noticed his pupils were “extremely dilated and his speech was slurred,” according to the criminal complaint.

When police asked Merlo to step out of the vehicle they observed a clear bag protruding from his pants pocket. After Merlo handed the bag to police, officers determined the bag contained what appeared to be methamphetamine, according to the arrest affidavit filed by Towamencin Police Officer James Gibbas.

Upon searching Merlo more thoroughly, police found a second clear bag containing a large amount of suspected methamphetamine, according to the criminal complaint. Police also found a large amount of cash, $977, in Merlo’s left pants pocket.

A laboratory analysis of the substances seized during the car stop subsequently returned positive results for methamphetamine, according to the arrest affidavit.