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I-70 traffic stop nets 600-pound marijuana bust

Monday, June 21, 2010
Putnam County Home Detention Officer Nate O'Hair, K-9 officer Deuce, Trooper John Myers and Motor Carrier Officer Wyan Dravigne all played a role in Monday's bust.

CLOVERDALE -- A traffic stop Monday by an Indiana State Police motor carrier officer turned into a criminal investigation after police officials discovered 600 pounds of alleged marijuana inside a semi trailer.

At approximately 9:30 a.m., Motor Carrier Officer Wyan Dravigne stopped a 1998 Freightliner semi tractor-trailer traveling east bound on 1-70 at the 41mm to conduct a safety inspection. The 41mm is located at the Cloverdale exit.

During the course of the inspection and while speaking to the driver, Emanuel Joseph Edwards, 51, of Winston Salem, N.C., Dravigne observed several indicators on the semi-tractor and trailer consistent with drug trafficking. Trooper John Myers, Putnam County Home Detention Officer Nate O'Hair and his K-9, Deuce, arrived to assist Dravigne. The dog did alert on the trailer.

The tractor and trailer were transported to Curtis towing, and the contents were offloaded with the assistance of ISP Drug Enforcement and Putnam County Sheriff's Department personnel.

During the course of the trailer offload, officers located nine bags of alleged marijuana with a total weight of 600 pounds. Drug Enforcement Officers estimated the marijuana to have a street value of $600,000 dollars.

Joseph Edwards

Edwards was transported to the Putnam County Jail without incident and is being held without bond. He is charged with dealing in marijuana (over 10 pounds) and possession of marijuana (over 10 pounds), both Class C felonies.

"This is another example of criminals using our highways for the dangerous transportation of drugs," said ISP Sergeant Dean Wildauer. "Officer Dravigne did a fantastic job of paying attention during a seemingly routine safety inspection and he removed a large amount of drugs due to his training".

The Indiana State Police would like to remind anyone with information concerning illegal drug activity to contact the Indiana Marijuana Tip Line at 1-800-453-4756. Callers can remain anonymous.

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  • That Nate O'Hair is so handsome & photogenic.

    (Just kiddin' around.) Great job guys. Although the money is nice, it's great to see some dope off the streets, too. Kudos to all three officers pictured & Deuce too. Another great example of all Putnam County Law Enforcement working great together. It's about time!

    -- Posted by ProblemTransmission on Tue, Jun 22, 2010, at 5:55 AM

  • Who posted that first comment - Ashley or Vicky?

    Great job guys!

    -- Posted by Geologist on Tue, Jun 22, 2010, at 7:11 AM

  • So if it was "alleged" marijuana..why did the guy get charged? Either it is marijuana or it is not. do we know which it is because further in the story it states:

    "During the course of the trailer offload, officers located nine bags of alleged marijuana with a total weight of 600 pounds. Drug Enforcement Officers estimated the marijuana to have a street value of $600,000 dollars."

    In the first sentence alleged is used; however in the second sentence it is not. So which is it?

    Way to go State Police..keep up the good work!!!

    -- Posted by girlmd on Tue, Jun 22, 2010, at 8:42 AM

  • Hooooo Weeeeee!!!! That is a LOT of Ganja!!!! NICE job guys!!!

    -- Posted by Afghan Contractor on Tue, Jun 22, 2010, at 10:17 AM

  • GOOD JOB GUYS, ONE MORE OFF THE STREETS.

    -- Posted by MORTY3 on Tue, Jun 22, 2010, at 11:12 AM

  • The time has come to end Prohibition on marijuana! When will all of the small minded people wake up and smell the skunky future of the USA? It's been over 70 years that our government has shoved propaganda down the throats of the American people. The end is in sight! Even the current president as well as the last two smoked marijuana "When I was a kid I inhaled frequently. That was the point."Barack Obama. Any doctor out their now prescribes drugs that are more deadly, have possible horrible side effects, and know will make you addicted to some of them. I would like to ask these fine officers which in their opinions is a bigger hassle to arrest some drunk guy or some guy that took a few tokes marijuana? F.Y.I. I have fielded this question to many other officers 98% plus have told me a drunk will put up a bigger fight and is more of a hassle.

    -- Posted by wookie on Tue, Jun 22, 2010, at 12:51 PM

  • Wookie you are 100% right! Marijuana is making a comeback. Its a plant and it is better for you then most prescription drugs. The officers now have something to sell to get thier fancy new cars! Im willing to bet all my money some officer will stick thier hand in this and take some home. Sorry officers the public isnt stupid!!!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Tue, Jun 22, 2010, at 2:35 PM

  • Someone please explain to me why alcohol is legal, and yet marijuana is not.

    Legalize it, regulate it and tax it. Stop wasting my tax dollars on this and take care of the meth problem that is overtaking our country. "dangerous transportation of drugs" HA. I have yet to hear of someone overdosing on marijuana.

    Keeping patting each other on the back there, boys.

    -- Posted by LangdonUlger on Tue, Jun 22, 2010, at 3:57 PM

  • Free Weed!!!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Tue, Jun 22, 2010, at 4:13 PM

  • 1st amendment rights, you sound like someone that has smoked a little too much hooch. Go get something to eat and quit being jealous that cops have a real job to do!

    -- Posted by magoo55 on Tue, Jun 22, 2010, at 4:22 PM

  • I'm sorry maggo55:)

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Tue, Jun 22, 2010, at 4:25 PM

  • That's ok 1st, i forgive you!!

    -- Posted by magoo55 on Tue, Jun 22, 2010, at 4:40 PM

  • Now that is one amazingly cute cop...oh and the humans are not bad either!

    -- Posted by ladyinthewoods on Tue, Jun 22, 2010, at 9:32 PM

  • LEGALIZE IT!

    -- Posted by '74tiger on Wed, Jun 23, 2010, at 7:07 AM

  • Oh, and I have a question for ProblemTransmission- you say "Although the money is nice"... does that mean the cops intend to sell the hootch to collect the street value of $600,000 dollars? Just wondering...

    -- Posted by '74tiger on Wed, Jun 23, 2010, at 7:11 AM

  • Am I the only person wondering why on earth a Community Corrections Officer was called with a drug dog instead of an officer with a drug dog? I know for a fact there are several dogs within the Sheriff's Department and I believe the State Police have at least one around here somewhere. Shouldn't the Community Corrections have been out doing surprise vists to those on probabtion instead of doing a drug bust that had nothing to do with thier job with the State Police? Hmm.....sounds to me like maybe someone was trying to get someone some good publicity, but then again who am I? Oh wait I am the one paying this guys salary to do one job when really he's out doing another!

    -- Posted by me me on Wed, Jun 23, 2010, at 5:47 PM

  • "Oh, and I have a question for ProblemTransmission- you say "Although the money is nice"... does that mean the cops intend to sell the hootch to collect the street value of $600,000 dollars? Just wondering..."

    Nope, but good question.

    The fact is that drug enforcement efforts show that while the drugs move east or north, the money moves back west or south.If you read the article above, you'll see that the drugs were being transported east. The money that was paying for this weed was headed the opposite direction on I-70. This money (typically 60-80%) can later be seized and eventually used to fund certain county expenditures, saving we the taxpayer $$$.

    -- Posted by ProblemTransmission on Wed, Jun 23, 2010, at 11:05 PM

  • Hold up here...600 pound = 9,600 ounces...say and ounce is $200.00 and that is being conservative....

    Would not that figure for the Dollar amount be more like $1,920,000? The following Link from High Times

    http://hightimes.com/lounge/ht_admin/6426

    Puts the price at a MUCH higher rate of and average of $374.00 an ounce, bringing that total of the Bust to about $3,590,400.....That would be a lot more Dodge Chargers running around Putnam county...

    -- Posted by Afghan Contractor on Thu, Jun 24, 2010, at 10:37 AM

  • The main point I fear some readers are not getting is this: Marijuana is still illegal. Right or wrong, healthy or not, you break the law, you get in trouble.

    -- Posted by WTFRUthinkin on Thu, Jun 24, 2010, at 7:13 PM

  • You are rightWTFRUthinkin and its sad. If people want to keep smoking pot they should consider moving out of this crap hole state and move out west where states are beginning to catch on how harmless it is. Until Indiana decriminalizes marijuana like it rightfully should consider relocating elsewhere. Their is an entire world out there besides Indiana. Its not worth the BS they put you through, welcome to the world of close minds aka most citizens of this county!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Thu, Jun 24, 2010, at 11:35 PM
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