I-78 speeder surprised at half-pound of pot in trunk, cops say

A New York City man stopped for speeding on Interstate 78 admitted he smoked marijuana while driving but said he didn't know about the half-pound of pot in the trunk, according to police.

Kevin Hwee (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Kevin Hwee, 25, of Brooklyn, was jailed on charges that include felony possession and driving under the influence of the illegal drug following a traffic stop just before midnight Thursday on I-78 West at mile-marker 65.4 in Bethlehem.

Hwee was driving a black 2017 Honda Civic as he passed a tractor-trailer on the right then sped up to 83 mph in a 65 mph zone, according to court records.

During the traffic stop that ensued, a trooper said he could smell "the strong odor of marijuana" through the open driver's side window of the car.

Police also noticed Hwee was wearing two headphones, in violation of state law, and was sitting on top of his buckled seat belt, court records say.

Confronted about the odor, Hwee said he and his passenger smoked marijuana while driving through New Jersey on the way to visit his girlfriend's family in Pennsylvania, according to police.

Hwee insisted there was no marijuana in the car. During roadside testing, he showed signs of impairment and was placed in custody, according to police.

Police said they searched the car and found the marijuana, labeled "Outdoor Trainwreck" and "Outdoor Kush," wrapped inside several bags in the trunk.

Hwee said he did not know it was there and that he had given a friend a ride earlier and maybe it was the friend's, according to police; also, the car belonged to his brother.

Hwee was taken to the Easton DUI Center for a blood draw then arraigned Friday morning before District Judge Antonia Grifo on the felony count of drug possession with intent to deliver, in addition to three charges of DUI, driving while wearing two headphones, speeding, careless driving and failure to wear a seat belt.

He was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $15,000 bail with a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled Oct. 2 before District Judge Joseph Barner.

Grifo agreed to 10 percent bail if approved by Northampton County Pretrial Services and ordered Hwee to remain drug- and alcohol-free pending disposition of the charges.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

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