An Ellsworth man was arrested for a felony meth charge after a traffic stop revealed a pile of illegal items in his vehicle.

Duane John Walter Hoyer, 39, posted $2,500 cash bail Oct. 26 in Pierce County Circuit Court on felony possess with intent to distribute amphetamine/methamphetamine (as party to a crime), felony bail jumping, operating while revoked (alcohol related), ignition interlock device tampering/failure to install/violate court order and two misdemeanor bail jumping charges.

If convicted, the maximum penalty is 25 years in prison and/or fines up to $100,000.

According to the complaint:

At 10:43 p.m. Oct. 23, a Pierce County patrol deputy attempted to pull over a red Ford Fusion at Highway 63 and 810^th Street in the town of Trenton for not having a light illuminating the rear license plate. The vehicle slowed down but kept driving until he reached 150^th Avenue.

When the officer approached the vehicle, the passenger immediately lit a cigarette. The driver, Hoyer, told police he didn’t break any laws and didn’t need to identify himself. He was sweating profusely and talking fast, while the passenger continuously blew cigarette smoke in the deputy’s face. The passenger also refused to identify himself and had dilated pupils and seemed agitated.

Dispatch confirmed Hoyer was revoked due to an alcohol-related offense and had an ignition interlock device requirement. They also confirmed Hoyer had an open felony and an open misdemeanor case out of Pierce County.

While police were gathering information, they noticed furtive movements in the car. They could also smell marijuana. Hoyer was asked to step out of the vehicle and placed under arrest for operating after revocation, bail jumping and failure to install the ignition interlock device. The passenger started yelling and became physically uncooperative. He was restrained over the hood of the car and identified as Cory Ryan Smith, 41. Officers located a green pill bottle in his pocket that contained marijuana and a sandwich bag that held meth.

In the vehicle, police found a black backpack belonging to Smith containing four hypodermic needles, glass smoking devices, a butane torch lighter, seven small sandwich baggies and a scale with meth residue, and 18 large unused baggies. The meth collected weighed 39.9 grams with packaging. Both men were transported to Pierce County Jail without incident.

Hoyer had a preliminary hearing scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 31.