Oregon Public Broadcasting

BURNS - Oregon State Police arrested a Kuna, Idaho, man and his son on drug charges after finding 11 pounds of marijuana in their rented vehicle in Burns last Friday.

The incident began when an OSP sergeant saw a Chevy Malibu fail to yield to a pedestrian in a downtown crosswalk about 11:30 a.m. Feb. 3. During the traffic stop, the sergeant saw the driver put a container on the ground by a fence.

Police found a small amount of methamphetamine and a pipe in the container.

With the help of a drug-sniffing dog from the Harney County Sheriff's Office, police located the 11 pounds of marijuana in a duffel bag in the car trunk.

Police said estimated the value of the marijuana at $27,500.

Kirk Yerton, 48, was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine and tampering with evidence, and cited for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

His son, Kody Yerton, 23, also of Kuna, was charged with possession of marijuana and cited for open container of alcohol in a vehicle.

Both were taken to the Harney County Jail.

The OSP Drug Enforcement Section is continuing the investigation.