Traffic Stop Yields Illegal Drugs

                On April 17, 2023, shortly after midnight, Parsons Police Officer Conner Eichinger conducted a traffic stop in the 400 block of south 32nd on a Dodge pickup. During the stop Officer Eichinger discovered the driver, Robert L. Goodrich, had a suspended driver's license.

                Robert was arrested and a subsequent search yielded a plastic baggie that field tested positive as methamphetamine. A search of the vehicle also led to the discovery of more methamphetamine and a glass smoking pipe.

                Robert was taken to the Parsons Police Department and processed without incident. The Parsons Police Department is requesting the following charges for Robert through the Labette County Attorney's Office; Possession with Intent to Distribute (Methamphetamine), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving While Suspended, No Liability Insurance, and a traffic violation.

                Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks said "this arrest is brought to you by the "routine" traffic stop. There is a lot of negativities surrounding traffic stops and their legitimacy for police work, but daily your officers are discovering far more serious crimes by conducting the "routine" traffic stop. I use the quotations because as every law enforcement officer in the nation knows there is no such thing as a routine stop. Every stop has the potential to escalate into a serious situation rather than be just routine. Traffic stops are the bread and butter of good police work and yield for more than just traffic infractions. Officers nationwide discover murders, felons, and human traffickers with traffic stops. This is one of the best tools we have available to help curb the dealing of death in our streets. I am very appreciative that we have proactive officers like Officer Eichinger to be vigilant and aggressive with the enforcement of dealing drugs in our city."            

This continues to be an on-going investigation and citizens are encouraged to "See It, Hear It, Report It." If anyone has any further information on this incident or any other criminal activity, please contact the Parsons Police Department at 421-7060 or call the Tip Line at 421-7057 or email at tips@parsonspd.com.

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