Dog’s Nose Stymies Drug Courier [AUDIO]

A traffic stop in Rock Springs last month resulted in the seizure of 14 pounds of marijuana and the arrest of a California man, with the help of a Sweetwater County drug dog. Daniel Sandoval has the details.

Patrick Henry Stahnke, 26, of Sausalito, California, was stopped for improper registration by Sweetwater Deputy Sheriff Pat O'Farrell in the early afternoon January 22.

According to a Wednesday press release from the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office, Deputy O'Farrell reported that things Stahnke said didn't make sense, so the county drug dog was called to investigate. Corporal Matt Bartolotta arrived with Blitz, who did an open-air sniff and alerted to both sides and the rear of the 2011 GMC Yukon that Stahnke was driving.

A search discovered 14 pounds of marijuana and a quarter ounce of hashish. Agents for the state Division of Criminal Investigation gave an estimated street value of the confiscation at 30,000 dollars.

Stahnke has been charged with felony possession of a controlled substance for the marijuana and of misdemeanor possession for the hashish. Circuit Court Judge Victoria Schofield set bond at 25,000 dollars, which was posted for Stahnke's release.

He faces up to 10 years in prison, a 10,000 fine, or both, for the felony, and Stahnke faces a year in jail and up to a 1,000 dollar fine for the misdemeanor.

Sweetwater County Sheriff Rich Haskell says the investigation shared by his office and DCI continues.

From the K2 Radio News Center, I'm Daniel Sandoval