Second drug case filed against Williamsport man this month

Williamsport, Pa. — While conducting surveillance on a local bar, detectives watched a Williamsport man sell cocaine to a person parked in the bar's parking lot.

In February of 2024, Matthew Russell Smith, 35, of Williamsport was seen leaving the Brandon Cafe at 410 Washington Boulevard, and get into the front passenger seat of another car. Investigators, watching from unmarked vehicles, said Smith left the car after it pulled around to the front of the bar on Penn Street, according to a complaint.

A traffic stop was later conducted on the car for failure to use a turn signal as it traveled from an alley onto Penn Street, detectives wrote in the affidavit. The driver consented to a search of the vehicle, and investigators found a glass stem and crack cocaine, an affidavit said.

Seven minutes later, Smith left the bar again, and sat inside his Dodge Charger while it was parked at the lot, according to police.

Detectives approached Smith as he sat in the car. Allegedly smelling burnt marijuana, detectives asked Smith to step out of the vehicle. As he was getting out, police allegedly saw a rolled marijuana cigarette in the center console. Smith was handcuffed. Police found cocaine and $3,206 in cash on Smith, according to the complaint.

According to arrest documents filed on Sept. 11, Smith is being charged with delivery of a controlled substance for that February arrest. He is being held on $40,000 monetary bail.

This is the second case filed against Smith this month. Smith and another man were arrested earlier this month, allegedly selling cocaine outside the Brandon Cafe.

Docket sheet