Two Great Bend teens were arrested early Monday morning on assorted drug charges following a traffic stop, Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir said.

Arrested at the scene was the driver, Esteban Foster, 18. Foster was booked into the Barton County Jail on charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, as well as driving without a license. Foster is being held in lieu of a $10,000 bond.

The passenger, identified as Damaris Meeks, also age 18, was placed under arrest and booked on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Meeks is being held in lieu of a $2,500 bond. 

Both subjects were still in jail as of Monday afternoon.

At about 3 a.m. Monday, while on active patrol, a Barton County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 1000 block of Heizer Street in Great Bend, Bellendir said. The officer stopped a white Mitsubishi bearing Kansas tags.

During the course of the traffic stop, a Great Police Department K-9 unit arrived at the scene. Further investigation uncovered almost five grams of suspected methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. 

“I find it disheartening that the people getting arrested for meth seem to be getting younger and younger,” Bellendir said.