A major illegal drug dealer is snared in a routine speed enforcement detail in Lancaster County. East Hempfield Township Police had set up the speed trap in the 3300 block of Nolt Road on Monday. Just before 3 pm Officer William Watt stopped a black 2002 Fork pickup that was clocked at 45 mph in the 25 mph speed zone. The driver, 48-year-old Richard Seery was alone in the truck. As he approached the pickup, Officer Watt detected the strong odor of marijuana. When questioned about the smell, Seery voluntarily handed over 15 grams of marijuana. Initiating a search Officer Watt found an additional small amount of marijuana and $1,300 cash. Officer Watt then called upon his K-9 German Shepherd partner, “Ringo”, who is trained to sniff narcotics. “Ringo” detected the presence of more marijuana somewhere in the truck.
A further search of the pickup at the police station uncovered 17 pounds of marijuana in a luggage bag hidden in the passenger compartment. Police obtained a warrant and searched Seery’s home in the 100 block of Treetops Drive. They uncovered 29 additional grams of marijuana, 3.5 grams of Psilocybin mushrooms, $4,000 in cash, two handguns, and drug paraphernalia. The marijuana had a street value of $20,000 and was packaged and ready for sell. Officers also searched a self storage unit rented by Seery and seized an AK-47 semi-automatic rifle and another handgun.
The pickup and cash were seized as suspected assets from the sale of marijuana.
Charges against Seery include, Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana, 2 counts of Possession of Marijuana, Possession of psilocybin Mushrooms and Speeding. Seery was arraigned and sent to Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $500,000 cash bail.