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Drugs, Machete Found in Auctioned Car

MOUNTAINHOME — About a dozen vehicles seized in Monroe County drug raids were auctioned off Friday in the Poconos. But one new owner received quite a surp...
mon auction

MOUNTAINHOME -- About a dozen vehicles seized in Monroe County drug raids were auctioned off Friday in the Poconos.

But one new owner received quite a surprise right after the vehicle was awarded to the highest bidder.

About twice a year, Monroe County auctions off vehicles seized by the drug task force, but one bidder almost drove off with more than he bargained for when he bought a 2008 Buick.

More than a dozen cars, trucks, SUVs were up for auction in Mountainhome. All items come as is, most of them seized by Monroe County's Drug Task Force.

Glenn Shook of East Stroudsburg bought a Buick, but when he and his friend took a closer look, they found something they didn't plan on.

"We found some marijuana blunts inside the ash tray, hypodermic needles in the glove box, and more drug paraphernalia, a machete," said Shook.

That's right - needles, drugs, and a machete.

Detectives say this type of find is rare, but finding other personal items is not.

"You have to remember when they're pulled over and arrested, they take possession of the vehicle, and the vehicle comes up here to the impound where it sits until we sell them, so yeah, pretty much it's like a snapshot in time," said county administrator Greg Christine.

One by one, more than a dozen vehicles and lawn equipment were auctioned off.

Jose Melina got a Toyota Camry for $475 dollars, but it has a window that doesn't go up.

"It's no problem for me, you know if there's anything wrong with it, I'll be able to manage it to fix it," said Melina.

The county discloses any issues with the vehicles that they know about before auction,  like a truck that only drives forward not in reverse, except if you put it in four-wheel drive.

Alan Havens of Bangor says his purchase will hopefully be his college car to travel to Penn State this fall.

"At the very least get a car that runs and gets me there and gets me back and for cheap so, it worked out," said Havens .

As for Shook, he says he will get his Buick detailed. He says he's actually rather happy with his purchase.

"The best part about it is, the money generated here at this auction will go right back into the county drug task force, to help fight people who are abusing the system," said Shook.

County detectives cleared all of the drug paraphernalia out of the Buick before Shook drove off. He was allowed to keep the machete.

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