Two Rutland men charged with drug offenses after traffic stop

RUTLAND — Two local men were charged with drug-related offenses after a traffic stop led to the discovery of cocaine and indicators of drug impairment on Dec. 6.

Troopers from the Vermont State Police Rutland Barracks pulled over a vehicle at approximately 8:24 p.m. for an observed traffic violation.

During the stop, troopers noticed signs of drug activity, prompting a call for a K9 unit and the seizure of the vehicle pending a search warrant.

The driver, identified as 56-year-old Sean McKinnon of Rutland, exhibited signs of impairment.

After administering Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, troopers took McKinnon into custody for DUI.

He was later transported for a blood draw and released with a citation to appear in Rutland Criminal Court facing charges of DUI drug and cocaine possession.

A passenger in the vehicle, 30-year-old Stewert Babbitt, also of Rutland, was found to be in possession of a felony amount of cocaine during a consent search.

Babbitt was processed at the Rutland Barracks and released on a citation to face a felony cocaine possession charge in court.

The Vermont State Police continue to investigate the incident.

Both men are due to appear in Rutland Criminal Court to respond to their respective charges.