Affidavit: Two arrested after traffic stop turns into drug bust in Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Two men were arrested early Monday morning after a traffic stop led to the discovery of methamphetamine.

Just before 2 a.m., an officer with the Lincoln Police Department was driving east near 27th and Vine Streets.

According to an affidavit, the officer passed a vehicle with no license plates that was stopped near 29th and Vine streets.

As the vehicle was turning onto 27th Street, the officer turned around to pull the vehicle over.

During the traffic stop, the officer said 44-year-old Thomas Leffers was visibly shaking in the driver’s seat and did not have a license.

Leffers also said the vehicle wasn’t his and he didn’t have any papers for it.

The officer made Leffers and the passenger, 46-year-old Alan Watson, get out of the vehicle and stand next to the cruiser.

According to the affidavit, the officer learned Leffers had a revoked license and Watson had a warrant out for his arrest and placed them both under arrest.

During a search of the vehicle, an officer found a pipe underneath a backpack between the driver and front passenger seat.

The pipe had “a significant amount” of suspected methamphetamine, according to police.

No other drugs were found inside the vehicle.

Before leaving the scene, the officer found a baggie of a crystal-like substance underneath his cruiser near where the two men were standing.

Dash cam footage showed Watson using his right hand to drop the bag and then trying to push it under the cruiser with his foot, police said.

Both men were taken to the Lancaster County Jail and charged for their drug related offenses.

According to the affidavit, the jail staff found more methamphetamine in Leffers’ belongings.

The drugs were found in a black zipper pouch that was attached to the tag in his shorts.

According to police, Leffers put the bag between his glutes and put his hands in the front of his body to block it from being found.

Inside the pouch was seven individual baggies of meth, weighing 22.4 grams.

Police said the weight of the individual packaging was consistent with that of meth sales and not that of a user.

According to the affidavit, Leffers is currently on parole for the distribution of methamphetamine.

Leffers was charged with possession of meth with intent to deliver, while Watson was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and tampering with physical evidence.