LAPLACE — A signal violation turned police in the direction of cocaine and methamphetamine, leading to the arrest of a local man for drug dealing.

According to the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 500 block of East Airline Highway in LaPlace around midnight Sunday due to a turn signal violation.

Deputies said the  driver, identified as James Anthony Williams III, had a suspended license. Deputies also observed a marijuana cigar on the center console, a release said.

A K9 unit alerted officers to the possible presence of narcotics inside the vehicle, according to police, who said a subsequent search led to the discovery of a pipe, a straw with cocaine cut in half and a Clonazepam pill.

Williams, 29, was then taken into custody and, upon arrival for booking, discovered with a small straw with cocaine, two plastic bags of about one gram each of methamphetamine, a plastic bag of about a gram of cocaine and three Clonazepam pills hidden in his sock.

Williams, of Reserve, is charged with distribution of Klonopin (Clonazepam), possession or distribution of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and taking contraband to penal institution.

He is being held in custody in lieu of a $60,750 bond.