Traffic stop yields pounds of meth in Union County

Several pounds of methamphetamine, marijuana, prescription pills and thousands in cash were seized late Thursday night during a traffic stop by the Union County Sheriff’s Office. The stop lead to the arrest of Gary L. McDougal, 59, of Osceola, formerly of Creston, on eight drug-related charges.

Deputies charged McDougal with three counts of possession of a controlled substance, third or subsequent offense; two counts failure to affix drug tax stamp and a controlled substance violation, all Class D felonies. McDougal was also charged with a Class B felony controlled substance violation.

McDougal was the driver of a vehicle stopped in Creston city limits after Adams County had notified Union County law enforcement of a reported reckless driver eastbound on Highway 34. The vehicle, a 2003 Nissan Frontier, was observed by Union County deputies on Highway 34 near Laurel Street, traveling in the middle of both eastbound lanes.

After the vehicle was stopped, Creston Police officers smelled the odor of marijuana coming from inside the truck. McDougal initially said he had smoked marijuana in the truck but denied there being any in the vehicle. Eventually, he produced a cigarette pack, which had two rolled joints inside and gave it to officers.

During a search of the truck, a backpack containing more than 3 pounds of a white crystalline substance which field tested positive for methamphetamine; a vacuum-sealed bag with more than a pound of a marijuana; several loose prescription pills, at least one of which was identified as a Schedule 4 controlled substance and more than $5,000 was discovered.

At his initial appearance in Union County District Court, McDougal’s bond was set at $60,000 cash or surety. He will be back in court for a preliminary hearing Aug. 9.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Creston Police Department.