Traffic Stop in Mentor Leads to Trafficking Charges

Mentor Police arrested two men late last week on drug trafficking charges near a hotel on Reynolds Road.

An officer initially stopped the car near Route 2 for   "suspicious activity," according to the police department's Facebook page. The officer discovered that the driver, 26-year-old Christopher Smith, and Nathan Shifflett, 19, had been smoking marijuana. A search revealed an unspecified amount of marijuana for sale, cocaine, prescription pills, an expandable baton and a stun gun.

Cleveland Heights resident Smith and Shifflet of Willoughby were arrested and charged with drug possession and possession of criminal tools. Smith was also charged with carrying concealed weapons.

The officer also seized a large amount of money, their phones and the vehicle.