A Monday afternoon traffic stop resulted in the arrest of a 36-year-old Hutchinson man on charges of methamphetamine possession, Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir reported.

Bellendir said that on Feb. 10 at about 3:15 p.m., a deputy with the Barton County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a vehicle  for a traffic infraction in the city of Ellinwood on U.S. 56 near Main Street. The vehicle turned south on Main Street and began to accelerate, returning to U.S. 56. Pursuit of the fleeing vehicle reached speeds in excess of 100 mph.

Deputies continued to pursue the vehicle into Rice County and after driving through several fields and township roads, the suspect vehicle sustained disabling  damage on 3 Road in Rice County. The suspect was taken into custody without incident, Bellendir said.

Arrested at the scene was Austin Newton, 36, of Hutchinson. Newton was initially charged with attempting to flee and elude; however, further investigation of the vehicle located nearly a pound of suspected methamphetamine and more than $1,400 in cash.

Newton was transported to the Barton County Jail and booked on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, felony flee and elude, driving while suspended, possession of marijuana and numerous other charges. It was discovered that Newton had outstanding warrants in Sedgwick County as well as Rice County. He is being held in lieu of $100,000 bond on the Barton County charges and multiple bonds on the Sedgwick and Rice County charges.