By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities arrested two suspect on drug allegations after one refused to exit a convenience store bathroom.
Just before noon Thursday, A police officer on patrol in the 500 block of E. Pacific Avenue in Salina saw a blue motorcycle with a man and a woman on it driving eastbound, according to Police Captain Paul Forrester. The officer recognized the motorcycle as being associated with someone he knew to have an active Saline County District Court warrant.
The duo headed south on N. Ohio Street, pulling into Casey's, 500 N. Ohio Street, with the officer following to conduct a traffic stop as the license plate on the motorcycle had expired in July of 2021, according to Forrester. At that point, other officers had also arrived.
Officers went inside the store and made contact with the driver, identified as Dillon Sonnier, 23, of Salina. Forrester said that when they took Sonnier outside to talk about the expired license plate, he became nervous and asked to go into the restroom. Instead, officers patted him down and found an SCCY 9mm handgun in his coat. They also found a small metal container with pills that were later identified as amphetamine.
Because Sonnier was a convicted felon, he was not to be in possession of a firearm. Offices arrested him on requested charges of Criminal possession of a firearm, Possession of a controlled substance, No valid driver's license and Unlawful acts with registration.
Meanwhile, the woman identified as Elektra Iford, 22, of Salina, who had been on the motorcycle had gone into the women's restroom and refused to exit. A store employee finally got her to leave the restroom. Iford had an active warrant from Saline County District Court. She was booked on the warrant and requested charges and Possession of methamphetamine and Possession of drug paraphernalia.