WL man faces 11 criminal charges after traffic stop in Lafayette

A rural West Lafayette man faces 11 criminal charges related to a traffic stop in Lafayette on Monday.

Ryan Kidder, 31, of 314 Leatherwood Way, West Lafayette was driving through an area under surveillance from members of the Tippecanoe County Sherriff’s Department when an officer noticed his car had expired plates. The officer followed the vehicle and noticed other infractions including making turns without signaling and driving left of center, according to an affidavit filed by the prosecutor’s office on Wednesday morning.

According to court records, the officer could smell the odor of marijuana. When he confronted the driver, who said he did have his identification on him, initially misidentified himself, but admitted “having a joint.” After a second officer arrived, the driver then correctly identified himself and said there was a warrant on prior charges.

The first officer searched the vehicle and found a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine weighing 0.5 grams, according to the officer’s affidavit. As the search progressed, police say they found marijuana, cocaine and other drugs along with a loaded handgun.

Kidder told police that “everything in the vehicle was his and he was trying to sell everything to get money,” the affidavit said. “Kidder said there was some cocaine and a Sig Sauer 9 mm pistol in the vehicle, both of which he intended to sell to make money.”

Kidder has a prior criminal record. He was convicted of felonies in 2019, 2018, 2016, 2013 and 2012 ranging from operating a vehicle while under the influence, to various drug possessions, several batteries as well as residential entry and theft. He also has prior misdemeanor convictions as well, according to court records.

On Wednesday, the six newest felony charges include: Dealing in cocaine, possession of cocaine, possession of methamphetamine, two for possession of a controlled substances and carrying handgun with a prior felony conviction. He was also charged with five new misdemeanors that include: Two for possession of marijuana, unlawful carrying of a handgun, possession of paraphernalia and false informing.

He has been held in the Tippecanoe County Jail since Monday afternoon on a $200,000 bond.