Hunter Burris, age unavailable, of Bellefontaine, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of a dangerous drug, and possession of drug abuse instruments during a traffic stop Monday evening.
Officers from the Washington Township Police Department on patrol about 7:15 p.m. in the area of State Route 720 near Township Road 239 observed a vehicle being operated by a known suspended driver.
Officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle at the Midway Marathon, 8758 T.R. 239, Lakeview, but the vehicle continued through the parking lot at a slow speed failing to stop initially. Officers noticed that the driver appeared to be moving around in the vehicle quite a bit. The vehicle finally came to a stop and the driver, Burris, was ordered out of the vehicle.
Officers noticed an object in the defendant’s hand as he exited the vehicle, which was later determined to be a bag of pills. Burris was advised to drop the item on the seat. Burris complied and advised officers he also had a hypodermic needle inside his right pocket that he used to inject heroin.
The defendant was taken into custody and placed in the patrol car. Officers conducted a search of the vehicle and located a suboxone pill, a schedule three controlled substance, and three gabapentin pills. He did not have a prescription for either of the drugs, officers said.
Burris stated that the reason he did not stop right away was because he was trying to swallow all the pills he had in his possession. Officers said this is their third such encounter with the defendant within the last two months. He also was cited for driving under suspension.