Drug arrests made at rave in Stroudsburg
Two Monroe County residents were among five arrested Saturday during a high-energy dance music event in Monroe County.
Candice Vandever, 23, of Kunkletown, and Nicholas Smith, 22, of Stroudsburg, were among the handful of people who were arrested.Members of the Monroe County Drug Task Force conducted an undercover investigation at the HyperGlow Tour inside the Sherman Theater.The HyperGlow Tour advertises as "America's largest touring glow experience" with electronic dance music, combining high-energy dance music, "mind-blowing performances," live art and body paint.Detectives from the Monroe County District Attorney's Office planned for the event since similar events in previous years resulted in several drug overdoses, fights and excessive alcohol consumption. Rave parties like HyperGlow are known for the use of Ecstasy to enhance the experience, as well as marijuana, cocaine and molly.Undercover police officers from the Drug Task Force went into HyperGlow to mingle and dance with the ultimate goal of purchases drugs.Three other people were arrested: Ryan Bitler, 25, of Bethlehem; Diego Morales, 22, of Bridgeport; and Dax Pradarits, 19, of Sparta, New Jersey.Smith and Morales both sold marijuana to an undercover police officer. Morales was also in possession of acid/LSD, which he purchased on Main Street just before entering the rave. Smith was in possession of marijuana and a scale.Smith and Morales were taken to Monroe County Correctional Facility and arraigned by District Judge Anthony Fluegel of Tobyhanna.Smith was released on $10,000 secured bail, while Morales was released on $2,500 unsecured bail.Vandever and Bitler will appear before District Judge Kristina Anzini of Stroudsburg at a later date for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. They were found in a vehicle and arrested before entering the rave.Pradarits was arrested for underage drinking and received a citation.In addition to detectives from the District Attorney's Office, police officers and detectives from Stroud Area Regional Police and Pocono Mountain Regional Police participated in the operation.