Zachariah Cody Taylor

A repeat drug offender is facing new charges following a traffic stop Thursday, during which police said the driver tried to swallow pills and tussled with an officer.

Two young children and another man also were in the vehicle, in which the officer found “significant amounts” of methamphetamine, pills, cash, drug paraphernalia, packaging, scales and other items that led the officer to believe the driver was involved in drug distribution, Lawrence Police Sgt. Trent McKinley said.

Prosecutors on Friday charged Zachariah C. Taylor, 29, of Lawrence, in connection with the incident. He faces several drug charges, two counts of aggravated child endangerment and one count of interference with law enforcement in Douglas County District Court.

Taylor was out on bond and scheduled for trial in August in another case, according to court records. He was arrested and charged in March with unlawful possession of certain drug precursors and drug paraphernalia.

Taylor previously served prison time for drug possession and distribution convictions stemming from incidents in 2003 and 2005, according to Kansas Department of Corrections records.

On Thursday, McKinley said, the officer pulled over the vehicle — similar to one recently reported stolen and bearing a license plate that wasn’t assigned to it — about 10:15 a.m. in the 2200 block of Barker Ave.

McKinley said the driver attempted to swallow pills and struggled with the officer before the officer handcuffed him. The officer received minor injuries.