Hope man arrested on drug charges after suspicious vehicle report

A report of a suspicious vehicle in a downtown alley led Columbus police to arrest a driver on drug-related charges yesterday morning.

Columbus police are reporting that they received the report of a suspicious vehicle at about 12:25 a.m. Thursday and shortly afterwards found a vehicle matching that description near 11th and Washington streets.

They pulled over the driver, 43-year-old Allen W. Tidwell of Hope after seeing a minor traffic violation, according to police reports. Tidwell did not have a driver’s license after a lifetime suspension for being a habitual traffic violator.

A Columbus police dog alerted to the odor of narcotics in the vehicle and police report finding a backpack with narcotics, prescription drugs and paraphernalia.

Tidwell was arrested on preliminary charges of operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator and for possessing heroin, a legend drug injection device, a legend drug, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.