A New Carlisle man was arrested following a Wednesday evening traffic stop for charges of improper handling of a firearm in a vehicle and possession of methamphetamine, with the investigation aided by K9 Thor, deputies of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office report.
Passenger Coty L. Cooper, 25, was lodged in the Logan County Jail following the traffic stop about 11:20 p.m. on U.S. Route 68 near Township Road 508.
Deputies initiated the stop after observing that the vehicle did not have any functional license plate lights and also no numbers on its Ohio temporary registration.
While speaking with the driver, Jeffrey M. Palmer, 36, of Springfield, they found that he also had a temporary learner’s permit, and passenger Cooper’s license was suspended. A West Liberty Police Department officer also arrived on the scene.
Prior to a free air sniff conducted by K9 Thor, deputies had Cooper take a dog out of the vehicle and over to the West Liberty cruiser. Deputies conducted a pat down search of Cooper after he began placing his hands in his pockets. Deputies located a 9 mm pistol in a holster on Cooper’s waist and seized the firearm, which deputies said was unloaded.
K9 Thor indicated to the presence of illegal narcotics in the vehicle and deputies and the officer conducted a vehicle search. They seized a 9 mm magazine from the passenger seat where Cooper had been seated, along with a baggie containing a white crystal substance in the passenger side door panel.
In addition inside a bookbag with paperwork for Cooper, deputies found another loaded magazine and a digital scale with white crystal residue, and three 9 mm rounds on the back seat floorboard.
Cooper was placed under arrest and was transported to the Logan County Jail. Palmer was cited for no operator’s license and license plate lights required. The vehicle was towed from the scene.