Manhunt For PA Man Who Tried To Throw Heroin Bags Over Highway Guardrail

A manhunt is underway for a Pennsylvania man who tried to throw bags of heroin over a N.J. highway guardrail and fled across traffic on Monday.

Ryan Smithers of Stroudsburg fled at approximately 2:01 p.m. after a Byram Police Officer conducted a motor vehicle stop on I-80 westbound, police said.

A vehicle was observed traveling below the posted speed limit in the center lane of the highway, and had a passenger seatbelt violation, police said.

The vehicle was stopped and after a brief investigation, and the officer suspected that several of the vehicle occupants were under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, police said.

Smithers then attempted to discard three bags of heroin over the guardrail. An officer confronted Smithers and he surrendered 20 bags of heroin.

Smithers then ran into the lanes of traffic and crossed four lanes of westbound I-80, while almost being struck by several vehicles, police said.

The officer detained the remaining 3 suspects and requested a K-9 unit to respond.
Those charged were:

• Kenneth Petersen Jr. of Stroudsburg, Pa. who was allegedly found to possess 3 bags of heroin and drug paraphernalia
• Ivy K. Masar of Bangor, Pa., who was allegedly found to possess two hypodermic syringes and drug paraphernalia
• Anyssa Kravchenko of Bangor, Pa., who was allegedly found in possession a hypodermic syringe.

The three suspects were placed under arrest, but a K-9 track was unable to locate Smithers.

The suspects were processed and released after being issued the summonses with pending court dates.