Pair arrested after traffic stop on Bainbridge

Published 7:00 am Saturday, September 12, 2015

A 29-year-old Renton man was charged with second-degree possession of stolen property in Kitsap County District Court after police alleged they found a stolen credit card in his possession during a traffic stop on Highway 305 last week.

Michael Andrews Armstrong was arrested for possession of stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of heroin just before 10a.m. Sept. 4.

According to court documents, Armstrong was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by police on Highway 305 near Vineyard Lane for passing in a no-passing lane.

During the traffic stop, an officer noticed a hypodermic needle and tourniquet fall from Armstrong’s hooded sweatshirt pocket.

Police then discovered he was wanted on a warrant in King County. He was searched and an officer found more hypodermic needles as well as small tins that contained what appeared to be heroin.

The substance was later tested and was determined to be heroin.

Police also said a Capital One credit card was found in Armstrong’s possession that was not in his name. Police contacted the owner of the card and determined it had probably been stolen out of the victim’s mailbox.

Possession of stolen property in the second degree carries a maximum prison term of five years and a $10,000 fine.

The driver of the vehicle, Alicia Kathleen Cruz, 33, also of Renton, was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance.

Police learned Cruz was wanted on a warrant in King County when she was stopped and she was immediately arrested.

During a search of Cruz, police found a plastic bag that allegedly contained methamphetamine.

A glass smoking pipe was found sticking out of the floor board by the driver’s side door.

Armstrong allegedly told police the pipe and the drugs belonged to her, and not her passenger.

Possession of a controlled substance can result in a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.