A Washington man was arrested on drug charges after a routine traffic stop turned up cocaine, marijuana, and other drug paraphernalia, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said a statement Thursday.

On March 6, Deputy Brad Cumston with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division saw a vehicle drive left of the center line. A traffic stop near Park Drive and Hudnell Street, and the resultant search of the vehicle, yielded a small bag of marijuana and four short plastic straw pieces with white residue. The residue tested positive for cocaine. Ronriquez Lamont Flowers, 25, of Vermont Avenue, was charged with possession of cocaine, simple possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Routine traffic stops by Sheriff’s Office deputies often result in other charges, explained Major Kenneth Watson.

“We actually use traffic stops as a tool to interdict other, more serious crimes,” said Watson. “Virtually any crime you can commit, a motor vehicle is involved. We see our traffic stops as our opportunity to get involved in those crimes that might be occurring if a car is involved.”

Flowers was held under at $2,500 secured bond at the Beaufort County Detention Center.