A 30-year-old Gering man is back in custody and is facing seven felony drug related charges in two separate cases.
Joseph Van Winkle is accused of being the driver in a December 13th traffic stop. Court documents say officers found a hidden compartment in the console and discovered six grams of methamphetamine, a vial with suspected heroin, and a jar with 38 fentanyl pills.
He is also charged in a second case from Christmas Day following a traffic stop that ended at Essential Fuels. Officers found a small baggie containing brown fentanyl powder on Van Winkle. While he was being transported to jail, officers saw him slip a hand from the handcuffs, remove an item from his shoe and secured the item down his pants.
Eventually, Van Winkle removed a baggie containing 20 fentanyl pills from his anus.
He is now facing two counts of Distribution of an Exceptionally Hazardous Drug; three counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance; Tampering with Physical Evidence; and No Drug Stamp.
Van Winkle is scheduled to be back in court on Friday as his case moves its way up to Scotts Bluff County District Court.
