A West Plains man is facing felony drug charges after police say a traffic stop led to the discovery of methamphetamine, syringes, and prescription pills. According to the probable cause statement, Officer Branden Vernon stopped a vehicle on Porter Wagoner Boulevard on June 14 for “inoperable registration lights.” During the stop, Vernon wrote that “reasonable suspicion was established that there was a possibility that there was illegal narcotics inside the vehicle.”
A K‑9 unit was called and alerted to the vehicle, leading to a probable‑cause search. Officers reported finding used syringes in the passenger seat where Mitchell Lee Sanders had been sitting, including one syringe “with blood on the end of the syringe and on the seat cushion.” A blue pencil case behind the glove box contained additional syringes, a baggie with crystallized residue, and two teal pills later identified as Diazepam.
According to the statement, both a liquid substance and the crystallized residue tested positive for methamphetamine. Sanders is charged with possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
