Traffic stop in Scotts Valley leads to arrest for drugs, gun possession

Early Friday morning, Scotts Valley police arrested a man on suspicion of possessing narcotics and a loaded firearm after conducting a traffic stop for a car with broken tail lights.

Just after midnight on Scotts Valley Drive, officers stopped the car and noticed the smell of burnt marijuana coming from inside. Neither occupant of the vehicle had a valid medical marijuana card in their possession.

Officers conducted a search of the vehicle and the occupants, and found a pouch underneath passenger Edward Robert Papineau’s pant leg.

Inside, police say they found 31 grams of methamphetamine, .2 grams of cocaine, marijuana, and narcotics paraphernalia. They also found a loaded .45 semi auto handgun underneath the driver’s seat and a bulletproof vest.

Papineau, 37, of Felton, allegedly told police he was the owner of the vest, gun and drugs.

He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail.

The female driver was interviewed and released at the scene.