An Escalon man who was on probation for prior weapons crime convictions was arrested Saturday evening by a Ceres Police officer who found him with drugs after stopping him for switching his car license plates.

At 8:19 p.m. Officer Vince Hooper was on patrol in the area of Central Avenue and Evans Road when he saw a white Honda Civic being driven southbound on Central Avenue with the rear plate on the front and missing the month tab. Hooper initiated a traffic stop on Lois Avenue at Darrah Street to investigate.

Driver Duan Eugene Touchstone, 43, of Escalon, owned the car and he stated he was on probation for a weapons offense. Touchstone was removed and handcuffed.

Hooper searched the car and found a syringe under the center console and small pieces of plastic that had a white powder residue inside. Hooper also located some cash and a small plastic bag that contained a small chunk of crystal methamphetamine inside the left cargo pocket of his shorts.

Touchstone was arrested for misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center.