KOSCIUSKO  — A Claypool man was arrested after being found in possession of drugs during a traffic stop. 

Curtis L. Banghart, 33, 101 Warner Drive 7, Claypool, is being charged with possession of methamphetamine, a level 6 felony. 

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on May 5, Warsaw Police officers and Indiana State Police officers were conducting surveillance on a residence in Kosciusko County. During the surveillance, officers observed a maroon Chevrolet pickup truck leave the residence. 

Officers followed the vehicle and observed the Chevrolet pickup truck fail to use a proper turn signal and make a turn without using the turn lane. Officers conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as Banghart. While speaking with the officers, Banghart made two conflicting statements. 

During this time, Banghart removed his black sweatshirt. One of the officers conducted a pat down of Banghart and found a change purse that contained a plastic bag with white residue that field-tested positive for methamphetamine. 

Officers used a K-9, trained to detect the odor of drugs, to perform an outer air search of the maroon Chevrolet pickup truck, and the K-9 made a positive alert. Upon searching the vehicle, police discovered a metal tin in the black sweatshirt. Inside the tin was a plastic bag corner that contained a white, powdery residue and a white, rocklike substance. The white, rocklike substance field-tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed .05 grams.

On the ignition keychain, officers found a pill container. Inside the container were five round pills and three white, round pills. The pills were identified as legend drugs. Officers also found several pieces of an off-white rocklike substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed .01 grams along with one full pill and four broken, half pills that were identified as acetaminophen/codeine, a schedule II narcotic drug.

Banghart was booked at the Kosciusko County Jail on May 15 with a $5,250 surety and cash bond.