Three arrests were among the latest credited to officers with the Indiana State Police, Sellersburg post.
Jamal Omar Bates, 33, Indianapolis, was allegedly speeding southbound on Interstate 65 on the afternoon of December 21. The car’s speed, clocked at 87 miles per hour, attracted the attention of Trooper Tracy H. Spencer.
The officer caught up with the gray Honda north of the State Road 56 overpass at the Scottsburg interchange. As he talked with Bates, Trp. Spencer said Bates presented ID cards issued in Indiana and Alabama. He allegedly admitted to having no valid driver license.
The trooper said he also detected the recent use of air freshener in the car, which overlaid the smell of burned marijuana. When Scott County Deputies James Shelton and James R. Ward arrived with Ward’s K-9 Karl, Deputy Ward walked the dog around the exterior of the car and the animal indicated drugs could be in the vehicle.
Bates then allegedly said cocaine and marijuana were in a box on the front passenger seat. When officers looked, they found the drugs as well as some drug paraphernalia. Bates was placed in handcuffs and the car was impounded.
At his initial court hearing, Bates entered a preliminary plea of not guilty. His original bail was set at $15,000 by corporate surety bond or $1,500 cash. It was reduced to $5,000/$500. Bates’ initial jury trial date is March 26 on a Level 6 felony possession charge and three misdemeanors.
Trooper Kyle Taylor found a woman for whom he had been searching on December 21 in Crothersville.
Trp. Taylor was conducting an investigation of recent drug activity and was looking for Alexus G. Smith, 20, to question her. When he went to a residence on Lawnview Drive in Austin, he talked to a couple who had been keeping some of Smith’s belongings. Obtaining permission to search the items, Trp. Taylor said he came across a “loaded” syringe.
He went to a Crothersville address and found Smith there, but the woman refused to talk with him. She reportedly told him she “…ain’t no snitch…”
Smith has been charged with Level 6 felonies of possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a syringe and a misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia.
Her jury trial has been initially scheduled for March 26. Bail is set at $15,000 by surety bond or $1,500 cash.
On December 29, Trp. Taylor accompanied Austin police and a state parole officer on a parole visit to a home on West Cherry Street in Austin.
William Ray Neace Jr., 32, was at home. In a search of his belongings, a used syringe was found, the probable cause affidavit related. Neace allegedly said it was used to inject methamphetamine. He was taken into custody for violating the terms of his parole.
On January 3, Neace attended his initial court hearing on a Level 6 felony charge of unlawful possession of a syringe.
His jury trial has been initially set for April 2. Bail is $15,000 by surety bond or $1,500 cash. |