MITCHELL — An Orleans man with a history of drug convictions was taken into custody in Mitchell on the evening of October 19, 2026, after a routine traffic stop led to a police K9 alert and the discovery of an uncapped syringe and alcohol inside his vehicle, according to court documents.
Travis J. Odell, 37, was arrested by Mitchell Police Department Officer Phillip Emery following the stop near College Avenue.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Officer Emery was patrolling in his marked police vehicle at approximately 8:58 p.m. on Oct. 19 when he observed a blue Chevrolet Tahoe drive past a stop sign before coming to a halt nearly a full car length past the intersection of Frank Street and 8th Street.
Officer Emery initiated a traffic stop, and the Tahoe pulled over at the intersection of College Avenue and 8th Street. Odell was identified as the driver, sole occupant, and registered owner of the vehicle.
While Officer Emery ran Odell’s driver information, Officer Kuhlman arrived on scene with his K9 partner, Vader. During an open-air sniff around the perimeter of the SUV, K9 Vader alerted officers to the presence of illicit substances at the front passenger door.
Joined by Officer Jacobs, police conducted a search of Odell’s vehicle, locating an open bottle of Smirnoff vodka found behind the driver’s seat, within reach of the driver, which was approximately two-thirds full with a broken seal. They also found an uncapped, used hypodermic syringe wedged between the driver’s seat and center console, with its orange protective cap located in the driver’s door panel.
When questioned, Odell stated he was not a diabetic and had no medical necessity to possess a syringe, claiming instead that the needle belonged to a friend.
A field test performed on the tip of the needle yielded a positive result for heroin/opiates. Officers noted that Odell has prior convictions for possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of paraphernalia.
Odell was placed in mechanical restraints and transported to the Lawrence County Jail for lodging. He faces a Level 6 felony charge for possession of a syringe alongside a Class C infraction for open container violations.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the probable cause affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
