Driver Nicholas Chiles, 38, of Lima and passenger James Lange, 30 of Bellefontaine, each were charged with felony counts of possession of a controlled substance and improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle during a traffic stop about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Officers of the Washington Township Police Department on patrol in the area of State Route 366 and State Route 368 stopped a vehicle for an obstructed license plate.
Upon making contact with the occupants, Chiles was found to have an active warrant for his arrest out of Union County. Lange consented to a search of his person and a meth pipe was located. K9 Bruno was deployed on the vehicle and indicated.
A probable cause search was conducted. A loaded handgun, suspected methamphetamine, acid strips and syringes were located inside of the center console.
Both defendants were taken into custody and were lodged in the Logan County Jail. Troopers of the Marysville Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol assisted at the scene.
• A Delaware County woman was arrested on multiple drug charges following a traffic stop executed around 4:18 p.m. Wednesday by officers of the Washington Township Police Department.
Samantha Walton, 25, was stopped along U.S. Route 33 in the Russells Point area after failing to use a turn signal at the intersection of State Route 36 and Lincoln Boulevard.
Officers reportedly also observed a number of marked lanes violations prior to initiating the stop. Upon making contact with Walton she advised officers she did not have a valid driver’s license, and she was asked to step outside the car.
K9 officer Bruno was dispatched to the scene and alerted on the car.
A probable cause search turned up 7.41 grams of suspected methamphetamine, two syringes and a piece of foil with white a white crystal substance contained inside. A digital scale, several “tie offs” throughout the vehicle consistent with the sale of narcotics also were recovered.
Walton was arrested and charged with felony drug possession, trafficking in drugs, driving without a license, driving under suspension, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of drug abuse instruments. She was lodged in Logan County Jail.