A routine patrol near a Sallisaw motel has led to the arrest of a Vian man on multiple charges after a K-9 unit uncovered suspected methamphetamine in his vehicle.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case, Sallisaw Police officer Wesley McGuirt was stationed near the Golden Spur Motel on W. Cherokee Ave. around 10:58 a.m. on March 5 when he observed a black Dodge pickup driven by 39-year-old Ricky Johnson pull behind the building.

Johnson was then seen entering the passenger side of a silver SUV, remaining there for about 20 minutes. Both Johnson and the female driver of the SUV, later identified as Jamie Louthan, eventually entered Johnson’s truck and drove off.

McGuirt initiated a traffic stop after noticing the license plate on Johnson’s truck returned to a different vehicle— a 2001 Chevrolet. The stop was made in the parking lot of Casey’s gas station on S Kerr Blvd.

Johnson told the officer he was headed to the tag office to register the truck and had not yet obtained insurance. Louthan claimed she had run out of gas and that Johnson offered to help in exchange for $10.

Noting inconsistencies in their story and their drugrelated histories, McGuirt requested a K-9 unit from the Sequoyah County Sheriff ’s Office. Deputy Colton Goff arrived with his K-9 partner, who alerted to the vehicle’s driver and passenger doors.

A subsequent search of the vehicle led officers to discover a clear plastic bag containing a white, powdery substance under the driver’s seat, believed to be methamphetamine.

Johnson was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, use of a bogus tag, and failure to provide insurance. He was taken to the Sallisaw Jail where a jailer reported finding a glass smoking device containing the same substance under Johnson’s foot, that he was allegedly attempting to conceal. He was then transported to the Sequoyah County Detention Center and the substance was sent to the state crime lab for further analysis.

Johnson has been charged with bringing contraband into the jail, possession of controlled dangerous substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to maintain insurance or security, and removing proper or affixing improper license plate. He received an $11,000 bond and is now scheduled for an April 30 felony disposition docket before Associate District Judge Kyle Waters.