Oct 3, 2015 2 min read

A Pittsburgh man was arrested by state police on drug and escape charges after a traffic stop early Saturday at a motel on West Chestnut Street in Canton Township.

Lionel Troy Hong-Long, 25, was spotted about 12:15 a.m. driving in the parking lot of the Red Roof Inn, 1399 W. Chestnut, in a vehicle without a working headlight.

The trooper said he could smell marijuana when he approached the vehicle.

He then called for assistance and approached the vehicle again for Hong-Long’s driver’s license and registration.

Hong-Long told the trooper he was from Pittsburgh and he was there to meet someone he met on Facebook.

He also said his vehicle was low on gas and he was stopping to get directions to a gas station. Police noted there are three gas stations within sight of the motel.

When a second trooper arrived, Hong-Long was asked to get out of the vehicle. Police frisked the defendant and found a large amount of cash in different pockets. Hong-Long told police he had withdrawn $2,000 from his bank account Friday.

As the trooper continued the search, he felt a large bag in the front of Hong-Long’s pants.

As the trooper started to pull the pants away from his body, Hong-Long reportedly tried to push his way past the two troopers. The troopers grabbed him and the three struggled before he was taken into custody.

Police found two bags of marijuana in Hong-Long’s jeans. A digital scale and another bag of marijuana were found in the vehicle.

Hong-Long was arraigned before District Judge Joshua Kanalis on charges of possession and possession with intent to deliver marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, resisting arrest, escape, driving under suspension and driving without headlights.

He was placed in Washington County Jail on $25,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14 before District Judge David Mark.