Search turns up drugs, pickup driver charged

A patrolman stopped a pickup truck Monday morning and arrested the driver on drug charges, county police said.

Officer David Frendlich was on routine patrol about 2:30 a.m. when he saw two men standing in the back of a 1989 Toyota pickup heading north on Ritchie Highway toward Seventh Avenue. The officer stopped the truck and spoke with the driver, who agreed to let him search the cab, police said.

A partially burned marijuana cigarette was found in the ashtray, as well as some marijuana residue in a cigar leaf, according to police.

Jason Lloyd Zeeler, 23, of the 6400 block of Roots Drive was charged with possession of marijuana, police said. He also was ticketed for allowing people to stand in the back of his truck.