Arrest. MWC file photo

MERRILL, WI (WSAU) – A 41-year-old Merrill man was arrested last week on a drug charge following a traffic obstruction along County Road Q near Highway 51 in Lincoln County.

Officials say the unidentified man was stopped for an unknown traffic violation when officials discovered he was behind on child alimony payments. During the stop, officers learned that he had given drug paraphernalia to a child in the car to prevent the officers from finding them on him.

The man was arrested for failing to pay child benefits and charged with a misdemeanor for providing drug paraphernalia to a minor.

It is unclear whether the child was related to the man.