Traffic stop leads to an arrest and seizure of marijuana and paraphernalia

On Saturday, October 11, 2014, a Nolan County deputy initiated a traffic stop on a gray, Ford truck in the 300 block of 3rd Street for expired registration. Just before the stop, the deputy had observed the occupants in the vehicle engaged in suspicious activity behind a local Sweetwater business, which raised concern. After stopping the vehicle and contacting the driver, of Sweetwater who was accompanied by passengers, Dylan Kirkpatrick and Dusty Sutton, both of Sweetwater, the deputy became even more concerned when the men admitted to be in possession of drug paraphernalia and having smoked marijuana earlier. All the men were requested to exit the vehicle; consent to search was requested and received. A search of the vehicle was then conducted which lead to the discovery of a bag of suspected marijuana, paraphernalia used in its consumption and paraphernalia used in the consumption of methamphetamine. The two passengers were arrested and transported to the Nolan County jail. Kirkpatrick was charged with the misdemeanor offense of possession of drug paraphernalia. Sutton was charged with the misdemeanor offense of possession of marijuana. The case will be filed with the Nolan County Attorney for prosecution.