Rutland man faces felony drug charge after traffic stop

RUTLAND — A routine traffic stop led to the arrest of a local man on multiple charges, including felony possession of cocaine, Vermont State Police reported.

Eric Stephens, 58, of Rutland, was pulled over in the parking lot of the Cortina Inn at about 7:33 p.m. on Feb. 29 after troopers observed a vehicle violation.

During the stop, authorities learned that Stephens was driving with a criminally suspended license.

Without incident, Stephens was taken into custody and brought to the Rutland Barracks for processing.

Indications of drug activity prompted the deployment of a K9 unit at the scene, which resulted in the seizure of Stephens’ vehicle pending a search warrant.

After a warrant was obtained and executed, a search of the vehicle uncovered a felony amount of cocaine.

Stephens was subsequently cited for possession of cocaine, driving with a license suspended (DLS), and for being a habitual criminal.

Stephens is being held at the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Center on a $5,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court to answer the charges.