Traffic Stop Near Hwy 101 Leads To Flurry of Charges For Driver

A California Highway Patrol officer arrested a man after the officer discovered drugs inside his vehicle on Wednesday in Santa Rosa.

Around 3:30 p.m., an officer observed a Honda Accord on the Corby Avenue off-ramp to southbound U.S. Highway 101, according to the CHP. The officer recognized the driver, identified as 43-year-old Shawn Laughman of Santa Rosa. Laughman has an extensive criminal record, CHP officials said, and the officer noticed Laughman was wearing gloves - a common practice among car thieves.

The officer then ran the car’s license plate. The registration was expired, but the plates were displaying current tags, CHP officials said. The officer initiated a traffic stop.

As the car was stopping, the officer could see Laughman making movements toward the vehicle’s floor. When the vehicle finally stopped on Corby Avenue near Talmadge Drive, the officer contacted Laughman.

Laughman was unable to produce a license or insurance and admitted that his license was suspended, according to CHP officials. When the officer asked if Laughman had any contraband on him, he admitted that he had a syringe loaded with heroin in his pocket, CHP officials said.

The officer then found what appeared to be methamphetamine scattered on the vehicle’s floor, another syringe as well as a bag of methamphetamine inside Laughman’s pocket, according to CHP officials.

Laughman later admitted that he was trying to get rid of the methamphetamine as he was pulling over, CHP officials said. The officer suspected Laughman was under the influence of drugs and he subsequently failed a sobriety test.

He was arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence, driving on a suspended license, possession of methamphetamine and heroin and destruction of evidence, according to CHP officials.

--Bay City News