ISP stop yields drug, documents charges for three men
Three men are lodged in the Putnam County Jail facing drug and counterfeit documents charges following an early-morning Friday traffic stop by Indiana State Police.
Diego Hernandez Mendoza, 29, and Ricard Zarate-Aguirre, 25, both of Mexico, were booked in on drug and illegal documents charges.
Ismail Ibrahim Ismail Khan, 30, Saudi Arabia, is being held only on drug charges.
At 1:30 a.m., Trooper Jonathan Cumbie clocked a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze at 83 miles per hour in the eastbound passing lane of Interstate 70 near the 30-mile marker. The posted speed limit is 70 mph.
As Cumbie activated his lights to stop the vehicle, he noticed a red can thrown from the passenger side of the rented vehicle into the roadway.
The vehicle then stopped without incident.
Cumbie's investigation revealed a small amount of marijuana in the red can as well as additional small amounts in the front and back seats.
Additionally, Zarate-Aguirre and Mendoza appeared to have fraudulent Mexico government documents.
Zarate-Aguirre and Mendoza, the passengers, were booked in for possession of counterfeit government documents, a class D felony, and possession of marijuana (under 30 grams), a class A misdemeanor.
No bond was set for either man.
Khan is only facing the misdemeanor marijuana charge, and bond was set at $8,000.
Jail book-in records listed all three men's addresses as Covington, Ky.
The Putnam County Sheriff's Department assisted with the traffic stop.