Man jailed after drugs found on dog

It was a first, illegal drugs hidden in the dog’s vest, said Rohnert Park police Wednesday.

“I’ve seen it hidden on kids and on girlfriends, but never on the dog,” said Sgt. Dave Saldanha Wednesday morning.

About 50 pills, believed to be the powerful narcotic Oxycontin, were in a baggie in a pocket of the dog’s vest, Saldanha said.

They were found early Wednesday after the driver, Ian Merritt, 32, of Soda Springs was stopped while driving on Commerce Boulevard without his headlights.

Possession of the drug without a prescription, which the man didn’t have, is a felony crime. Merritt was arrested on suspicion of possessing the illegal drug.

Saldanha pulled him over at about 12:30 a.m. A check of the driver’s record showed the young man had court dates coming up for drug allegations. The man gave his consent to have his Dodge pickup truck searched, the sergeant said.

While talking to officers, the man held onto his large, friendly, white dog, declining offers to have an officer hold the animal.

Eventually an officer did take the dog and checked pockets on the dog’s vest, finding the drugs, Saldanha said.

Merritt was booked into Sonoma County Jail in lieu of $10,000 and was released after posting bail.