A traffic enforcement event led Parsons police to find illegal drugs and arrest the driver of the vehicle allegedly transporting them.
The arrest on Aug. 17 happened during a routine traffic enforcement effort, the Special Traffic Enforcement Program, “You Drink, You Drive, You Lose.”
At 8:18 p.m., Officer Tyller White observed a red GMC Sierra commit a traffic violation before striking a power box and a mailbox near North 26th Street and North Boulevard. The driver, later identified as Justin Cooper, initially claimed that a medical issue caused him to lose control of the vehicle. Upon further investigation, inconsistencies in his statements prompted officers to expand their inquiry.
Sgt. Christian Smith’s K-9 partner Morgan assisted and conducted an openair sniff around Cooper’s vehicle, which led to a search. Illegal substances, including marijuana, methamphetamine and prescription pills, were recovered, all of which appeared to be packaged for distribution, according to a release from Parsons police. Cooper admitted to recent drug use and was arrested. He was processed at the Parsons Police Department before being transported for a blood draw at Labette Health as part of a DUI investigation.
Lt. Kyle Wiford, who oversees STEP enforcement operations, commended the work of the officers, “The STEP program is not just about enforcing traffic laws or preventing impaired driving crashes. It also gives us opportunities to identify dangerous criminal activity that might otherwise go unnoticed. In this case, a simple ‘routine’ traffic stop, as some may call it, took drugs and a potential dealer off our streets, making Parsons a safer place for everyone.”
Cooper was identified as a registered violent and drug offender stemming from a conviction on a 2010 voluntary manslaughter and manufacturing of methamphetamine case. He was again convicted in April 2024 for the distribution of narcotics. For his arrest on Aug. 17, police are seeking charges for driving under the influence, failure to maintain insurance, possession of narcotics and paraphernalia and distribution of a controlled substance.
“Our officers are trained to look beyond the traffic stop,” said Police Chief Robert Spinks in a prepared statement. “Every vehicle stop has the potential to uncover much larger issues. This case demonstrates how important partnerships like STEP are in addressing both roadway safety and drug crime.
“Again, we have a career criminal that has repeatedly been a burden on society and fails to reform his behavior in any meaningful way. It is time for the court to look to other avenues.”
The Parsons Police Department will continue to participate in STEP operations throughout the year, with the dual goals of reducing impaired driving and holding offenders accountable who bring drugs into the community.
This continues to be an ongoing investigation, and citizens are encouraged to “see it, hear it, report it.” All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If anyone has any further information on this incident or any other criminal activity, please contact the Parsons Police Department at 421-7060, call the Tip Line at 421-7057 or email tips@parsonspdks. gov.
