By Joe Bachman

Two Wisconsin Rapids men face drug related charges after police found methamphetamine in their possession during a traffic stop.

James Vasquez, 30, is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, and Michael Knighten, 42, is charged with possession.

According to police reports, on Oct. 15 in the town of Grand Rapids, a traffic stop was initiated due to the plates of the defendant’s car being registered to another vehicle. The officer identified Vasquez, who currently had a warrant out for his arrest, and was also driving with a suspended license.

After initially giving a false I.D. to police, it was soon discovered that Knighten, the passenger, had three warrants out for his arrest.

Authorities searched Knighten and found a keychain with a small plastic container with two gem baggies with a white powdered substance inside believed to be methamphetamine, as well as a plastic straw.

Between the passenger seat of the vehicle police found a glass pipe with white residue, and after a search of Vasquez, discovered a black key which opened a safe in the trunk of the car.

Inside the safe, an officer found two digital scales, 116 unused baggies, 6 baggies containing methamphetamine, and a silver spoon. Police also located three glass pipes in the backseat of the vehicle.

According to Vasquez, he was given the safe from an individual at a parking lot at a business on the 4300 block of 8th St. South, and was to drive it to Plainfield. Vasquez stated that he was threatened with a gun if he did not take the safe.

An officer reviewed  security footage of the parking lot exchange and found that no safe was exchanged at all during the interaction.

If convicted, Vasquez faces up to 15 years imprisonment and up to $50,000 in fines. Knighten faces up to three years and six months imprisonment and up to $10,000 in fines, though he currently faces charges of burglary in Adams County.

Future court dates are pending.