A burned-out headlight led to a South Ninth Street traffic stop early Sunday that resulted in Ceres Police seizing 16 grams of black tar heroin and arresting the driver.

At 12:33 a.m. Officer Charles Rushing was patrolling Ninth Street when he pulled over a vehicle for the missing headlight near the intersection of Ninth Street and River Road.

Kenneth Walker, 56, of Salida, said he knew his headlight wasn’t working and was driving back home to Salida. Officer Rushing learned Walker was on probation and searchable. Before the search, Walker stated he had a meth pipe inside. Rushing then located a baggy between the driver’s seat and center console containing black tar heroin.

Walker told police he no idea how the heroin got in his car, suggesting his brother drives it and that the heroin could belong to him. Walker said he uses only meth.

Walker was booked into the Public Safety Center for felony possession and transportation of a controlled substance along with probation violation.