(North Platte, NE) -- Five people are behind bars on drug charges following a traffic stop in Red Willow County.
The Nebraska State Patrol says around 9:15 Tuesday night, a trooper pulled over a Dodge Journey that had no license plates and was driving with its lights off on Highway 6 near McCook. The NSP says during the traffic stop, the trooper detected that the driver was impaired.
The trooper arrested the driver, 42 year old Andrew Blume of Indianola, for driving under the influence of drugs, driving under suspension, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a controlled substance, as well as a number of traffic violations. The state patrol says the trooper also located methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in possession of the passengers. The four passengers were also arrested.
The charges are as follows:
- Jonathan Essex, 35, of McCook – possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia
- Timothy Jauken, 19, of McCook – possession of a controlled substance
- Sheridan Stark, 23, of McCook – possession of a controlled substance
- Elora Towne, 21, of Henderson – possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia.
All five were lodged in Red Willow County Jail. The investigation remains ongoing.