ST. MARYS — A Brockport man who allegedly crashed his car into the doors of Penn Highlands Elk hospital in St. Marys is facing charges of intending to manufacture methamphetamine and having it in his system.
Joseph Michael Costanzo III, 29, Brockport, is charged by the St. Marys police with intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of red phosphorous etc. with the intent to manufacture a controlled substance and driving under the influence of a controlled substance.
According to the police criminal complaint, the St. Marys police were called to Penn Highlands Elk at 763 Johnsonburg Road, St. Marys at 3:44 a.m. Feb. 27 because a Chevrolet Camaro had crashed into the front doors of the hospital. Police determined Costanzo had been driving the car when it crashed.
According to the complaint, Costanzo appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance. He did not know who he was, where he was or how he got there, the complaint says. He also said he didn’t know who his passenger was. Police then discovered Costanzo had aluminum foil, which contained a small amount of methamphetamine. He was admitted to the emergency room at about 4:55 a.m. and consented to having his blood drawn so it could be tested for controlled substances.
Police impounded the Camaro and brought K-9 Nando to the vehicle. The dog indicated there may be a controlled substance in the vehicle. Police obtained a search warrant and found a glass marijuana pipe, a folded $100 bill with white powder in it, needles and Ziploc bags with white powder residue. A plastic bag was also found in the rear of the vehicle with a full box of maximum strength cold medicine, containing pseudoephedrine and a 32-ounce bottle of Liquid Fire. The items were confiscated by police so Clandestine Laboratory Response Team (CLRT) could be consulted, the complaint indicated.
The items found in the car indicated to police that the items were consistent with the making of a controlled substances, namely methamphetamine.
A CLRT member and forensic chemist also said the items can be used to make methamphetamine. A March 8 lab report from NMS Labs revealed Costanzo’s blood work showed he had amphetamine, phentermine, methamphetamine and methadone in his system, the complaint read.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 2 at District Judge Mark Jacob’s office in St. Marys.
