JEFFERSON COUNTY — A 55-year-old Keenes man is in the Jefferson County Jail after he was arrested on drug charges during an early Thursday morning traffic stop.

According to the sheriff’s office, around 12:19 a.m. Thursday, a deputy patrolling Illinois Highway 15 between mt. Vernon and Bluford encountered a vehicle the radar showed was speeding. An inquiry into the vehicle’s plate told the deputy the registered owner’s driver’s license was expired.

The deputy subsequently conducted a traffic stop and as he approached the vehicle he noticed it was occupied by four people. The deputy noted that the stories and actions of the occupants indicated something wasn’t right and two other deputies responded for backup and K-9 Deputy Tico did a sniff of the vehicle.

Tico alerted to the vehicle and after a vehicle search and interviews of those in the car, Greg Shell of Keenes was taken into custody for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug equipment.

According to the sheriff’s office, Shell has a long criminal history and is currently incarcerated in the Jefferson County Jail awaiting the formal filing of charges and the setting of bail.