A driver not wearing a seat belt leads to a traffic stop Monday afternoon that leads to the recovery of a stolen vehicle from Colorado.

A Salina Police officer pulled over a 1996 Ford Explorer just before 6PM in the parking lot at Salina Central High School in the 600 block of East Crawford, because the driver did not have on a seat belt.

Both the driver 18-year-old Justin Smull, and a passenger exited the vehicle and fled when the officer told both of them to get back in.

The officer was able to catch Smull in the 700 block of Morningside, but the passenger got away.

Smull had allegedly stolen the Explorer in Aurora Colorado on April 13th as a way to get back to Salina. Police also found 2 baggies of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.

Smull will face charges of obstruction, felony possession of stolen property, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police continue to look for the passenger.