What began as an interstate traffic stop ended with officers intercepting nearly 20 pounds of marijuana heading across state lines, police said.

Christopher Robert Hidalgo-Reardon, 27, was arrested June 2 on suspicion of distribution of marijuana and felony possession of paraphernalia with the intent to manufacture, plant or cultivate a controlled substance.

Christopher Hidalgo-Reardon

The booking logs list only a California post office box as Hidalgo-Reardon’s address.

The evening of June 2, Lawrence police stopped a vehicle — driven by Hidalgo-Reardon — eastbound on Interstate 70, changing lanes multiple times without signaling properly, according to an arrest affidavit filed in Douglas County District Court.

An arrest affidavit is a document filed by police explaining why a suspect was arrested. Allegations in an arrest warrant must be proved in court.

During the stop the officer asked Hidalgo-Reardon if he was carrying any illegal drugs or large amounts of money, the affidavit says; Hidalgo-Reardon denied that he had anything illegal with him and also denied consent to search the vehicle.

The officer then asked Hidalgo-Reardon if he could call a police dog to the scene, the affidavit says; Hidalgo-Reardon said the officer could but that calling a dog would be a waste of time.

Once on the scene the police dog — certified to detect marijuana and cocaine — signaled to officers that something was inside the vehicle, the affidavit says. Officers then told Hidalgo-Reardon he was not free to leave.

Police then searched Hidalgo-Reardon’s vehicle and found a large duffel bag with many vacuum-sealed bags containing marijuana, according to the affidavit. Another bag contained more vacuum-sealed bags “packaged for distribution” and an electronic cigarette with different liquid THC “inserts,” police said.

In all, police discovered more than 19 pounds of marijuana, the affidavit says.

Hidalgo-Reardon was placed under arrest and, according to the affidavit, later told police he was moving the marijuana from California to Georgia in exchange for $10,000.

Four days after his arrest Hidalgo-Reardon was released from the Douglas County Jail after posting a $21,000 cash or surety bond, according to court records. He was also ordered to wear a GPS monitoring device as a condition of his bond.

Hidalgo-Reardon is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.