Prineville traffic stop, K-9’s nose lead to meth, arrest

A southwest Prineville traffic stop last week led to a drug-sniffing police dog’s discovery of a small amount of methamphetamine, as well as money and an AK-47 rifle, and the arrest of a 23-year-old Prineville man, deputies said Monday.

A deputy stopped a maroon Honda Civic driven by Mikel Harris just after midnight last Wednesday on an unspecified traffic violation, said sheriff’s Sgt. Bill Elliott.

During the stop, Deputy Mitch Madden and his K-9 partner, Jett, arrived on scene, Elliott said. After Jett was deployed, he provided a positive alert to the presence of drugs.

Deputies found a small amount of meth, drug packaging material, digital scales with meth residue, cash and the Ak-47 in the car, Elliott said.

Harris was arrested without incident on meth possession, delivery and manufacturing charges. He was taken to the county jail and lodged until he was released on matrix due to crowding later that day, a jail officer said.