An early morning traffic stop Friday turned into a significant drug bust for the Watonga Police Department.
According to Chief of Police Beth Massey, officer Kagan Rinehardt was conducting a regular traffic stop just east of the Love’s truck stop.
Approaching the vehicle, Rinehardt noted a strong smell of marijuana, giving him probable cause to search the vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle at that point told the officer he had pot in the car. The search turned up 184 pounds of illegal marijuana, split into 163 bags, and a considerable amount of cash.
Rinehardt placed the driver – the sole occupant of the vehicle – under arrest. He was booked into the Blaine County Jail charged with trafficking a controlled dangerous substance.
He has since posted bond and been released.