Bicyclist: Pants where drugs found not mine

A Middletown bicyclist was charged with drug abuse and drug possession after he was stopped Monday morning near a downtown business.

Police said Thomas Helsley, 48, was riding a bike and pulling an empty bike behind him at 1 a.m. Monday, cutting in front of Advanced Auto Parts, 65 N. University Blvd. When police searched Helsley, they found a baggie of white, crystal substance and a hypodermic needle in his pockets. The field test revealed the substance was methamphetamine, according to the police report.

Helsley denied all knowledge of the items because the pants he was wearing weren’t his, he told police.

Police dropped the bikes off at Helsley’s home before transporting him to the Middletown City Jail.

He was charged with one count of drug abuse/methamphetamine and one count of possession of drug abuse/instruments.

Helsley will have his preliminary hearing Monday in Middletown Municipal Court, according to records.

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