SLIPPERY ROCK — A Florida man arrested on drug charges during September's Resonance Music Festival at Cooper's Lake Campground appeared in court Wednesday.

Michael L. Clark, 38, of The Villages, Fla., waived to court his right to a preliminary hearing before Judge William S. O'Donnell on four drug charges: two felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Clark's arrest was a talking point at Worth Township's Oct. 1 meeting as residents voiced complaints about the festival, which many agreed was out of hand in noise and behavior of those attending.

Some residents pointed to Clark's arrest as evidence of the nature of the festival.

State police Wednesday said Clark allegedly had more than $50,000 worth of drugs in his possession when he was arrested.

Clark's bail was reduced from $250,000 to $100,000 per negotiations between the judge, Assistant District Attorney Russell Karl, and Clark's public defender, Ryan Helsel.

Karl said the public defender made the request. He said state police were comfortable with the $100,000 bail.

“I just wanted it to be significantly high enough, so we didn't have to worry about him flying back to Florida,” Karl said.

State police and Harmony EMS responded to Cooper's Lake at around 4:30 a.m. Sept. 23 during the last day of the festival.

According to the police complaint, EMS found Clark lying on the ground from a possible drug overdose and, as they were searching for identification, they found two large plastic bags.

The report states the bags contained 156 grams of suspected amphetamine, 114 grams of suspected heroin, 16 small plastic bags of suspected amphetamine and three Xanex pills.

Police said the items tested positive for controlled substances.

Helsel had no comment Wednesday.

Clark's next court date was not available.

Casey Schneider, owner of Central Productions, which organizes the event, said it was the festival's security that called emergency services and police to address the problem.

“We were the ones that called the police on him,” Schneider said Wednesday.

Schneider said there was only one other drug-related issue that weekend, and they also alerted authorities in that case too.

“We're looking at beefing up security next year,” he said. “That's going to be something that we make sure we do.”

Schneider said there are specific areas at the festival where family camping is set away from other campers, but he said either way drugs should not be present at the festival.

Michael Clark