EPPING - The owner of a local towing company was arrested on drug charges Monday night after a routine motor vehicle dealer audit turned into a drug investigation, according to state police.

Timothy Castine, of 93 Jenness Road and the owner of Tim & Joni's Towing, was arrested on charges of drug possession, state police Lt. Nicole Armaganian said.

The arrest followed an investigation that began earlier in the day when state police from Troop G arrived to conduct a motor vehicle dealer audit.

During the audit, Armaganian said police "smelled a heavy odor" of what appeared to be marijuana inside the residence on the property where the business is also located.

Police then applied for and were granted warrants to search the property. During the search, which included three police K-9s, Armaganian said police found drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Several state police cruisers were at the property throughout the day, first for the audit and later for the drug investigation that lasted into Monday night.

jschreiber@newstote.com