KOOSKIA, ID — A Kooskia man was arrested Tuesday evening after a traffic stop led to the discovery of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, according to the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office.

At approximately 9:00 p.m. on May 20, an Idaho County deputy on patrol observed a black pickup truck traveling west on Broadway Avenue. The vehicle failed to stop as it turned onto Main Street/Highway 13. The deputy also noted the truck’s bed was overloaded with personal belongings stacked above the height of the cab.

While the vehicle continued down Main Street, a large piece of aluminum — roughly 3 feet by 4 feet — flew from the truck bed and into the roadway, forcing the deputy to swerve to avoid a collision. After removing the debris from the road, the deputy conducted a traffic stop.

A K9 unit responded to the scene, and K9 Millie alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. A search was conducted, leading to the discovery of methamphetamine and related paraphernalia.

The driver, identified as 47-year-old Jason Dusten, was arrested on charges of felony possession of methamphetamine, misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia, misdemeanor driving under the influence of drugs, and misdemeanor public intoxication involving a controlled substance. Authorities also confirmed Dusten had an active misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear in Idaho County.

In addition to the criminal charges, Dusten was cited for several traffic infractions, including failure to stop at a stop sign, driving without a current license, and failure to properly secure a load.

The Idaho County Sheriff’s Office reminds the public that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.