LIBERTY — A Bristolville man pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday after being arrested on a drug-related charge, fictitious plates and two active warrants — including one across county lines — by Liberty police Saturday morning.

Frank Hites, 40, was charged with drug paraphernalia possession and fictitious registration.

According to a police report, an officer was on stationery patrol in the vicinity of Belmont Avenue and Liberty Street when he noticed a red Chevrolet Trailblazer stopped at a red light.

When running the car’s plates through their system, he found the registration belonged to a black 2007 Cadillac that belonged to Hites. The officer also found that Hites had warrants out for his arrest — one in Geauga County for a larceny probation violation and one in Campbell. The report did not specify what charge the Campbell warrant contained.

According to the report, the officer pursued Hites after being blocked by heavy traffic flow, following him onto Interstate 80. Hites made a quick lane change, crossing over several lanes to the road’s far left lane, but eventually pulled over on a state Route 711 ramp.

Hites told the officer he had just recently purchased the SUV and had 30 to 45 days to switch the plates; however, Hites could not provide any bill of sale or paperwork pertaining to the purchase.

When another officer arrived and Hites was ordered out of the vehicle, he refused, stating that he didn’t do anything wrong. He eventually cooperated. The report states he attempted to stall for time by saying he needed to get his cigarettes, which were already in his left hand.

The officer eventually went back to the car after Hites was placed in handcuffs to verify the car’s VIN number with dispatchers and confirm the warrant. He noticed a metal cylinder screw-cap item on the driver’s seat containing a key ring, which the officer noted is used by drug users to store narcotics, and found an unknown residue inside of it affiliated with either cocaine or meth, the report states.

Hites was against the officer conducting a search of the vehicle. The officer informed him the vehicle would be impounded.

A search revealed a tool bag on the vehicle’s passenger side floorboard, which contained an eyeglass case with a used crack pipe and related items. A further search revealed metal containers containing a “small white rock” and a large “crystal-like rock,” the report states.

Hites was booked into jail on his active Geauga County warrant, as well as a drug paraphernalia possession charge. He was informed he could be charged with varying counts of felony possession upon the rocks testing positive for narcotics.

Bail was set at $1,500 for the drug paraphernalia charge. Hites is set to appear in Girard Municipal Court for a pre-trial hearing Jan. 30, court records show.