An obstructed license plate prompted a Ceres officer to pull over the driver of a Jeep Wrangler on Tuesday, June 13 and make the discovery of 1.7 grams of heroin and a glass pipe used to smoke heroin.

During the 9:53 p.m. traffic stop, the canine handled by Officer Ross Bays alerted to the possible presence of drugs inside the vehicle. Law allows such a signal for a trained canine to be cause to search a vehicle. Officer Bays found the drugs and paraphernalia inside of a bag belonging to passenger Jonathan Whatley, 30, Ceres. He was arrested and booked into jail for possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.