The Indiana State Police reported that three people were charged with drug offenses following a traffic stop on April 26. The incident happened on Interstate 65 in Jackson County around 9:30 a.m.
Police reports indicate that the state trooper pulled the vehicle over near mile marker 51 in the southbound lanes. The trooper had a K-9 with him, and the dog alerted on the vehicle. The trooper then searched the vehicle and allegedly found a small amount of marijuana. He then took three people into custody, including a 20-year-old male driver and two passengers, a 26-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman.
The trooper was reportedly suspicious, believing the trio must have had more drugs than the marijuana he allegedly found. He requested that jail staff conduct a careful search of the three during the booking process. The staff reported that they found 500 pills that were schedule II controlled substances concealed within the woman’s body. All three are facing charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and possession of marijuana.
While all drug crimes are serious, those that involve allegations of trafficking can carry much stiffer penalties if a conviction is obtained. People who are facing these types of charges may want to get help from a criminal defense attorney who has experience in drug cases. An attorney for people who are charged after being pulled over may challenge the initial traffic stop as being made without probable cause, which could lead to the evidence that was seized in the resulting search being excluded. In some cases that could mean a dismissal of the charges.
Source: FOX 59, “ISP: Three people arrested on drug charges, woman had 500 pills concealed in body,” Kylee Wierks, April 29, 2016.