Routine traffic stop leads to meth charges

A broken tail light has landed three behind bars after lawmen found an assortment of drugs and parts of a meth lab in their vehicle during what was a routine traffic stop.

Charged with possession of marijuana and possession of meth and possession of meth-making items are the car?s driver, Dustin Alvin Lawson, 24, and passengers, Michael V. Lance, 30, and Lacie Nicole Jones, 20.

In addition to the drug charges, Lawson is also charged with drunk driving while passenger, Jones, faces an additional drug charge of possession of a legend drug for having pills on her without also having the bottle or prescription. Lawson and Jones will face hearing March 6. Lance, who was on probation at the time of his arrest, bound his case to the grand jury Tuesday after his probation was violated, landing him in jail without chance of making bond.

Their arrests came after lawmen pulled over the car in which they were riding after noticing a tail light was not working. During the stop, in which officers suspected Lawson was driving under the influence, a search was conducted. It was during the search that officers found a stash of drugs under the passenger seat, drugs none of the occupants claimed as their own.

Among the illegal narcotics confiscated were 10.4 grams of a what is believed to be methamphetamine and 63 grams of what is believed to be marijuana. Also found during the search were various items commonly used in the production of meth, prompting officers to also charge the group with initiating the process of manufacture of meth.