A Columbus man was arrested Wednesday morning on marijuana charges after a traffic stop. At approximately 2 a.m., Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputy Sergeant Kris Weisner initiated a traffic stop at US 31 south of I-65. Authorities say they stopped the northbound car was stopped for traffic and equipment violations.

As Sergeant Weisner spoke with the driver, he detected the odor of marijuana inside the vehicle. The passenger, 21-year-old Jose Alberto Espino-Salas, allegedly admitted to having the marijuana inside the vehicle. Sgt. Weisner reported finding a backpack containing a green leafy substance and drug-related paraphernalia.

Espino-Salas was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Paraphernalia.