HENRY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE NEWS RELEASE: Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest for Suspicion of Drug Offenses

According to Sheriff Kent Oberkrom, shortly after midnight on Sunday morning, May 18^th, Cpl. Aaron Brown conducted a traffic stop in the 300 block of North Hwy 7, when he observed a dark-colored Toyota pickup truck fail to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of NW 221.  After Cpl. Brown contacted the driver regarding the traffic violation, he returned to his patrol vehicle and began to issue citations to the driver for several violations that he discovered during the traffic stop.

Patrolman John Scott and K-9 Junior, both of the Clinton Police Department, responded to the scene to conduct a K-9 sniff of the Toyota pickup, as Cpl. Brown continued to issue citations to the vehicle’s driver.  Upon request of Patrolman Scott, the driver and passenger were asked to exit the vehicle momentarily, as K-9 Junior conducted a sniff of the vehicle’s exterior.

When a positive alert from K-9 Junior was noted by Patrolman Scott, a search of the Toyota commenced, yielding the discovery of small amounts of substances believed to be methamphetamine and marijuana, as well as numerous items of paraphernalia believed to be used for the consumption of both substances.

Arrested on 24-hour investigative holds for two (2) counts of possession of controlled substances and two (2) counts of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia was Ryan Keith, age 42, of Clinton.  Citations were also issued to Keith for failing to stop at a stop sign and no valid operator’s license.  Keith’s vehicle was towed from the scene by Golden Valley Towing.  The passenger in Keith’s vehicle was released at the scene.

“Much the same as events that have been reported in past weeks, again a traffic violation led to an arrest of alleged drug offenses and a cooperative effort between local law enforcement agencies, in this case the Clinton Police Department, helped lead to its discovery.  There are many law enforcement agencies on local, state and federal levels that should be recognized and commended, as those officers work together for the citizens of Henry County, to make our communities safer places for us all to live and work”, Sheriff Oberkrom stated.