A routine traffic stop early Sunday morning led to the arrest of a man on drug trafficking charges after deputies discovered approximately 35 grams of methamphetamine near the intersection of Highway 9 and Bower Road, according to the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office.
Around 12:20 a.m. on May 11, Deputy Montgomery observed a red 2000 Ford F-150 failing to maintain its lane and initiated a stop near Bower Road. The truck’s center brake light was also out, prompting the stop.
The driver, identified as Michael Coast, produced a valid license with no outstanding warrants. After a brief conversation, Coast denied having any illegal items in the vehicle and consented to a search. No contraband was found in the vehicle.
However, deputies later allegedly spotted Coast walking away from the scene and briefly losing sight of him. A glass pipe and a plastic bag containing approximately 35 grams of methamphetamine were later found in tall grass near the location where Coast had been.
Coast was arrested and booked into the Pittsburg County Criminal Justice Center. He is being held on a $50,000 bond and faces charges including trafficking in illegal drugs, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, obstruction, and traffic violations.