WARSAW — A Warsaw man was recently arrested during a traffic stop that led to the discovery of methamphetamine and marijuana. The man also has a warrant out for his arrest for cashing stolen checks.

Kevin Daniel Gibson, 31, 3699 N. Greenwood Drive, Warsaw, is being charged with possession of methamphetamine, a level 6 felony; possession of marijuana, a class B misdemeanor; two counts of forgery, level 6 felonies; attempted theft, a class A misdemeanor; and two counts of theft, class A misdemeanors.

On May 18 an officer with the Warsaw Police Department observed a vehicle that matched the description of a vehicle involved with a theft. The officer followed the vehicle and performed a traffic stop. While approaching the vehicle, the officer detected a strong odor of marijuana.

The driver was identified as Gibson. According to the affidavit of probable cause, the officer observed marijuana inside the vehicle. At this point, Gibson was instructed to exit the vehicle and a vehicle search was conducted. Inside the vehicle the officer located the previously seen marijuana along with a plastic bag of methamphetamine.

Regarding the other charges, an officer responded to PNC Bank on April 18. Employees of the bank stated that Gibson came into the bank and attempted to cash a check from Hua Mei Chinese Restaurant, doing business as Wong’s Restaurant, signed by Ting Zhen. The check was for the amount of $560.

When the bank employee ran the check, the computer informed them there was a stop payment on the check because it had been stolen. Gibson told the employee that he had to pick up his kids from daycare and quickly left, leaving the check and copies of his identification behind.

The officer spoke with Zhen, who advised that on April 11, a vehicle belonging to the family was parked at the restaurant and broken into. The subjects stole a brief case that contained paperwork and checks. One check for the amount of $300 was cashed on April 17, to Gibson. This check was cashed before the stop payment was placed on the other checks.

During an interview with officers, Gibson admitted to stealing the checks from the vehicle and attempting to cash them.

Gibson was arrested and has since been released for the drug charges. A warrant remains for the forgery and theft charges.