By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

A Helena man is being held in the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $276,000 after police arrested him on charges of trafficking cocaine, among other controlled substance offenses.

The Helena Police Department arrested Michael Christopher Gaspard, 38, on Oct. 3 and charged him with counts of trafficking cocaine, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, first-degree unlawful possession of marijuana, illegal possession of prescription drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Helena police Sgt. Chris Rollan said the arrest came as the result of a traffic stop near the intersection of Alabama 261 and Shelby County 52 at about 10:15 p.m. on Oct. 3.

During the traffic stop, a Helena K-9 officer alerted police of controlled substances inside Gaspard’s vehicle, Rollan said. Police allegedly discovered Ecstasy pills, Oxycontin, diazepam pills, cocaine and marijuana inside the vehicle.

Rollan said the large amount of cocaine in the vehicle led to the trafficking charge.

According to Alabama law, if Gaspard is convicted of the drug trafficking charge, he would face no fewer than three years in prison, and would pay at least a $50,000 fine.

He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at the Shelby County Courthouse on Oct. 30.