Benjamin Haugh

SAXONBURG — A pudding-craving, dancing man is headed for trial stemming from a Christmas Eve drugged driving arrest in Jefferson Township.

Benjamin C. Haugh, 20, of Summit Township faces formal arraignment next month on a list of charges including driving under the influence of a controlled substance and drug possession.

State police said a homeowner on Hannahstown Road called about 4:20 a.m. Dec. 24 to report a disabled vehicle nearby. The caller reported the motorist had gotten out of the Ford Bronco and was dancing in the street.

By the time troopers got there, the defendant was still “dancing around eating pudding from a pudding cup without a spoon,” according to court documents.

Haugh told police that he ran out of gas. But police believed he also was impaired.

A pat-down search, police said, turned up a crack pipe and two glassine bags of suspected heroin stamped with Frosty the Snowman on them in his pants pocket.

He subsequently failed field sobriety tests and was arrested for suspicion of drugged driving.

Police searched Haugh's vehicle and found a bookbag containing 170 gabapentin tablets in a Mason jar. Gabapentin is a prescription drug used in the treatment of nerve pain and seizures, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website.

Also in the book bag was a rock of suspected crack cocaine, about two dozen empty stamp bags of suspected heroin and two crack pipes.

Police took Haugh to Butler Memorial Hospital for a blood test. Troopers said he had “heavy track marks” on both arms.

He also admitted, documents said, that a hypodermic needle had broken off in his left arm.

Toxicology reports were not immediately available.

Haugh was arraigned on charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, DUI, and three traffic violations.

Haugh, who is free on $30,000 bail, on Jan. 3 waived his preliminary hearing on charges. His arraignment in county court is set for Feb. 26.

State police, meanwhile, in an unrelated case, charged Haugh on Tuesday with driving under the influence of a controlled substance in connection with an incident Nov. 20 at Mercer Road and Blossom Drive in Center Township.

Troopers said they also found him with several bags of suspected heroin.

He is charged in that case with DUI, possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, and careless driving. His preliminary hearing was not immediately scheduled.