VALPARAISO | A Valparaiso man faces a series of drug-related charges after a rambling encounter with police early Monday.
A Valparaiso officer performed a routine traffic stop shortly before 3 a.m. Monday on Worchester Drive near Bedford Road.
The driver, who was later released, told police he was taking Scott Rastovic, 23, of Valparaiso, to his house after picking him up at a south side bar. He said he was driving Rastovic's car.
Police said Rastovic, who allegedly had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, then began arguing with officers, saying he didn't have to answer how much he had to drink and yelling at the driver not to answer any questions police might have.
Police said Rastovic declined a search of his car and began saying they were violating his constitutional rights.
Police said a relative showed up at the traffic stop and began yelling at Rastovic not to provide a breath sample or give police consent to search the car without seeing a warrant. Police said the relative later got back into his car and left.
A canine officer was brought to the scene and detected drugs in the car. Police said they found two glass smoking devices with burnt residue between the passenger seat and center console and a blue bottle with a liquid later determined to be an anabolic steroid.
Officers said they also found "a sea" of marijuana seeds and stems on the car floor.
Police said Rastovic was arrested and taken to Porter County Jail, where he continued a barrage of insults aimed at officers. He faces drug, marijuana and paraphernalia possession charges, police said.
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