OSAGE COUNTY — A Linn woman was arrested Jan. 29 following a traffic stop connected with a separate investigation, according to a probable cause statement filed by the Osage County Sheriff’s Office.

The statement reported at approximately 9:53 p.m., Sgt. Richard Jarvis of the Osage County Sheriff’s Office was attempting to locate a suspect wanted on charges of second-degree kidnapping and third-degree domestic assault. Jarvis was provided with a description of a silver Lincoln SUV, registration information, and its direction of travel, which was northbound on Hwy. 89 South from the Belle area.

While traveling southbound on Hwy. 89 South near Winter Lane, Sgt. Jarvis located a vehicle matching the description traveling northbound. After confirming the registration through the Emergency Operations Center, Jarvis conducted a traffic stop at the Breaktime at the intersection of Hwy. 89 South and East Main Street in Linn, with assistance from Linn Police Officer Cody Schmidt.

The driver was identified as Kristin R, Shoults. A passenger in the vehicle was confirmed to be the suspect sought in the kidnapping and domestic assault investigation. The passenger was removed from the vehicle, arrested, and placed in Deputy Rogelio Cortes’ vehicle.

According to the statement, Jarvis asked Shoults for consent to search the vehicle, which she denied. Jarvis then contacted Cpl. Ben Sallin and requested he bring K-9 Alfa to the location. Jarvis reported Shoults provided statements he believed to be false while being questioned about the incident under investigation, according to the statement. Jarvis then spoke with the passenger, who confirmed Shoults was lying.

Sallin arrived on scene and deployed K-9 Alfa around the exterior of the vehicle. Jarvis reported after learning a drug dog was being deployed, Shoults’ demeanor changed, and she began to complain of feeling sick, cried, appeared nervous, had difficulty standing still, and self-soothed by rubbing her face with her hands. K-9 Alfa later gave a positive alert to the odor of narcotics.

During a search of the vehicle, Jarvis reported locating a camouflaged bag behind the driver’s seat. Inside the bag was a black cloth pouch containing a cut straw, which Jarvis stated is commonly used to inhale narcotics. The search also revealed two bags containing a white crystalline substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine. The combined weight of the substance was approximately seven grams. A broken glass pipe with burnt residue was also found.

Jarvis reported locating an unopened Narcan spray can in the same bag. Shoults stated she had been given the Narcan by a friend to carry in case something happened. Jarvis stated this confirmed to him Shoults owned the bag and its contents.

A further search of the vehicle yielded an additional multicolored bag on the floorboard behind the driver’s seat containing a glass smoking device with burnt residue.

Shoults was placed under arrest and transported to the Osage County Detention Center, where she was booked and placed on a 24-hour hold pending formal charges. On Jan. 30, Shoults was formally charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Judge Sonya Brandt issued a warrant for her arrest, and she was later released on $25,000 bond. A bond appearance hearing is scheduled for Feb. 24 at 10 a.m.