June 05--A 26-year-old man who was to begin training at a police academy Monday was instead in Berks County Prison after authorities said they raided his Longswamp Township residence and confiscated 11 pounds of marijuana and more than $15,000.
Brandon E. Geiger refused to answer when a member of the Berks County Emergency Response Team knocked on the front door of the mobile home in the first block of Waldron Circle about 6:35 a.m. Sunday, investigators said.
While team members were forcing open the door, Geiger ran out a side door, carrying a large dog food bag and a backpack, both containing marijuana, but was stopped by officers, investigators said.
County detectives and members of the Berks County Drug Task Force found 8 pounds of marijuana in the dog food bag and another 3 pounds of the drug and drug-packaging materials in the backpack, investigators said.
Detectives said a woman and two children were in the living room of the trailer.
It was not clear if they are related to Geiger.
According to court records:
Detective Todd Harris of the district attorney's narcotics unit had obtained a sealed search warrant Saturday that was signed by Berks County Judge Stephen B. Lieberman following an investigation with Stephen Brock, a Spring Township police detective who also is a member of the county drug task force.
Based on their investigation, Harris and Brock knew Geiger carried a gun, so they asked the tactical team to help serve the search warrant.
The team consists of law enforcement officers from various departments in the county and is trained and equipped to assist police in these types of cases.
Police searched the residence and seized a .45-caliber handgun, a bulletproof vest and five cellphones. They also confiscated $14,400, 19 silver dollar coins and 20 1-ounce silver bars from a bathroom safe and $902 from a wallet on the kitchen counter.
Geiger was committed to the prison in lieu of $100,000 bail following arraignment before District Judge Gail M. Greth in Reading Central Court.
He was charged with possessing and intending to deliver marijuana, and possessing and intending to use drug paraphernalia.
Geiger told Greth during his arraignment that he had recently quit his job with a landscaping company because he was preparing for the police academy in Montgomery County.
Contact Steven Henshaw: 610-371-5028 or [email protected].
Copyright 2012 - Reading Eagle, Pa.
