It didn’t take long for the Warren County Drug Task Force to get back in business.

Last week, Thomas Kibbey was sworn in as the chief county detective, a position vacated at the end of 2020 by now-Sheriff Brian Zeybel. One of the primary roles of that position is coordinating the drug task force.

Late Friday night, the drug task force initiated a traffic stop in Sugar Grove Township that turned into the seizure of nearly 23 grams of suspected cocaine.

Task Force investigators charged Michael W. Ott, 21, Race St., Sugar Grove, with possession with intent to deliver and other charges in connection with the incident.

Detectives were in a marked patrol car at the intersection of Jackson Run Rd. and Creamery Rd. when a red sedan passed their position on Jackson Run Rd. “at an extremely high rate of speed,” determined to be 68 miles per hour.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, a traffic stop was conducted near the intersection with Yankee Bush Rd. just before 9 p.m. Friday night. Detectives observed three male passengers in the vehicle and “was able to detect the strong odor of burned marijuana” before reaching the vehicle’s window.

The drive was asked to step out of the vehicle and told police that “he has smoked marijuana in the vehicle prior to the stop.”

Detectives then identified Ott via PennDOT database photographs and “observed the silhouette of a boxy item in his front sweatshirt pocket and it appeared his left pocket was full of unknown items.”

Detectives then “observed the torn corner of a clear plastic baggie protruding from the same left pocket,” which police say is a common way to transport and sell illegal drugs.

Ott, investigators say, was then searched and a digital scale with a “white powdery residue” was discovered as was $1,154 in cash.

“During questioning he stated he sells the substance as cocaine” the affidavit states. “During the initial contact with OTT, he appeared to be extremely nervous and almost statue-like making very little eye contact during simple conversation.”

Investigators weighed the clear plastic baggie which came in at 22.69 grams. A cocaine test was “completed on the scale which had shown a positive reaction for cocaine.” They also learned that Ott was currently under supervision by Pennsylvania State Parole for prior charges.

Online court records indicate that Ott was arraigned by District Judge Raymond Zydonik shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday morning and placed in the Warren County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

A preliminary hearing is set for March 24.