DOWAGIAC — A 33-year-old Cassopolis man was arrested after police found a pipe with methamphetamine in his car during a traffic stop, according to the Dowagiac Police Department Director of Public Safety Steven L. Grinnewald.

The incident occurred at 3:24 a.m. Thursday when a Dowagiac police officer initiated a traffic stop for a traffic violation on E. Division Street near Edwards Street in Dowagiac. Upon contacting the driver, it was learned that the driver was required to have an ignition interlock device on any vehicle that he operates due to a previous operating while intoxicated conviction. 

Upon inspecting this vehicle, it was determined that it did not have an ignition interlock device and was therefore required to be impounded.

Upon conducting a search of the vehicle, officers located a pipe used for smoking methamphetamine in the vehicle that contained a quantity of meth in it. 

The investigation revealed that the pipe belonged to the driver, who admitted to hiding it in the vehicle when he was stopped, according to Grinnewald.

Dowagiac Police arrested the male for possession of methamphetamine. He was lodged at the Cass County Jail on this charge.

His name is being withheld pending his arraignment in Cass County 4th District Court. All charges are pending authorization from the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office.