Montana residents arrested in Idaho meth bust

The methampetamine arrest Tuesday in Shoshone County, Idaho, left two Montana residents facing drug charges after Idaho State Police Cpl. Kevin Kessler arrested a man and woman following a routine traffic stop.

The incident blocked a lane of eastbound traffic on I-90 near Pinehurst as Kessler had an additional four ISP vehicles called in for backup.

Jesse Atwin, 32, of Polson, Mont., was driving a Hyundai Sonata past milepost 44 when Kessler observed that the vehicle didn’t have properly functioning brakelights and was making an illegal lane change, according to Kessler’s affidavit.

Kessler states he could smell the odor of marijuana “emanating from within the Sonata” while speaking with Atwin and passenger Ardena Finley, 41. After calling in back up and having a K9 Unit detect the odor of illegal drugs, Kessler searched the vehicle.

Kessler’s affidavit said found marijuana residue throughout the vehicle, and the officer found small bundles of crystal meth.

After finding rolling papers used to smoke the marijuana, Kessler placed both Atwin and Finley in police custody.

Atwin was booked on charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Finley was book on one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

-Courtesy of Bobby Atkinson, Shoshone News Press