Traffic stop turns into drug arrest

BONNERS FERRY — On June 16, Daniel Church was stopped for potential impaired driving near the 3-mile gas station leading to arrest for drug possession.

Arresting officers Brandon Johnson and Marty Ryan responded to a possible impaired driver along Highway 2 near the Kootenai Valley Gun Range.

The reports detailed a red car with Montana plates swerving violently, stopping in the roadway and showing signs of tiredness when approached.

Johnson approached the vehicle and quickly observed restricted pupils and alcoholic beverage odor coming from Church’s breath.

According to the court records, Church stated he was tired and had been awake for a day and a half, reassuring Johnson that he was “good.”

When Johnson requested Church’s driver’s license, he moved a shirt in the center console, which revealed unopened syringes under the shirt.

“Based on my training and experience the presence of syringes in a vehicle is consistent with drug use,” Johnson said.

Before Johnson’s visual discovery, Church had stated he didn’t have diabetes; Johnson also spotted fresh track marks on his arm, a sign of recent drug usage.

Church stated the syringes or any of the drugs were his but displayed signs of nystagmus and performed poorly when under evaluation by officers.

Ryan conducted a vehicle inspection and discovered four Clonazepam and Alprazolam pills in a fake soda container, containers of marijuana, paraphernalia, methamphetamine and pipe.

Additionally, Ryan discovered an aluminum box containing used syringes and other heroin paraphernalia and a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun were discovered.

All the contraband tested positive for heroin and methamphetamines.

After entering jail, Church began to tell Johnson that he suffered an injury from falling onto concrete and was prescribed pain medicine; when taken off the prescription medication, he began to seek illegal drugs to treat the pain.

In the court documents, Church stated his preference for Oxycodone but sought heroin as a cheaper substitute because of high street value.

Church continued to state he purchased his drugs in Yakima, Washington and admitted to making a wrong choice of driving under the influence of drugs.

Currently, Church faces three counts of a controlled substance for the methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, paraphernalia with intent to use and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Church was previously convicted of a felony in Lewis County, Washington, in 2017 and is not allowed to possess a firearm.

Arraignment for Church is scheduled for July 21.