Man arrested on drug charge after traffic stop

A DeFuniak Springs man was arrested on a drug charge after being pulled over by a Walton County Sheriff’s Deputy on West U.S. Highway 90. The Deputy noted that Andrew Nichols’ 1991 Ford Explorer had trouble driving in a single lane on three different occasions. Upon running the vehicle’s tag number through dispatch, it came back to a different vehicle. Nichols told the deputy that he changed the tag with another vehicle he owned until he could get it transferred over.

Nichols’ license was also suspended. During the traffic stop, the dputy noted that Nichols became very nervous and shaky. When Nichols was asked if he had anything that would get him into trouble, he replied “No you can search me or my vehicle if you want to”.

The subsequent search turned-up a small cellophane baggie containing 20 white rectangular pills under the center console in between the two front seats of the vehicle. At that time, Mr. Nichols and his passenger were detained during the investigation.

Nichols told authorities that the pills were his, and only his. It turned out to be Methadone, a prescription narcotic. The 26-year-old driver was then placed under arrest and transported to the Walton County Jail. He faces a felony charge of drug trafficking four grams less than 30 kilograms. In addition, he’s charged with attaching a not assigned tag to his vehicle.

Nichols has been released from jail on a five-thousand dollar bond.