Burned out of rental home, man arrested at hotel on drug charges
A 36-year-old Greencastle man who had been living in a local motel room since an April 29 house fire, was arrested Thursday night on four drug-related charges.
Clarence Clay Clonch Jr. was arrested at the Dixie Chopper Hotel and Business Center at the Putnam County Airport in Greencastle after hotel employees noted suspicious activity in and around the suspect's guest room and contacted authorities.
At approximately 6:09 p.m., Greencastle City Police Sgt. Charles Inman received a message from the Putnam County 911 Center requesting he contact the Dixie Chopper facility regarding suspicious, potentially drug-related activity involving a male subject staying at the hotel.
It was explained to Sgt. Inman that Clonch had been staying at the hotel under arrangements made by an insurance company following Monday's house fire at 907 Crown St., Greencastle.
Clonch had been scheduled to stay at the airport hotel for approximately two weeks because the fire earlier this week caused excessive smoke damage to his South End residence.
However, hotel personnel reportedly became concerned about the high rate of traffic to and from Clonch's second-floor room.
City Police also noted that suspicious items found by hotel workers during routine cleaning of the room included hypodermic syringes.
Earlier, items reportedly found in the parking lot next to Clonch's vehicle contained a greenish leafy substance, police said.
Armed with that information, Sgt. Inman requested a search warrant, which was approved and executed Thursday evening by Sgt. Inman, Officers Nick Eastham and Matt Huffman, Det. Michael Collins and Assistant Chief Brian Hopkins.
The police search produced several hypodermic syringes and burnt spoons commonly used to heat up methamphetamine, authorities said.
Several small bags containing a clear crystal substance were also reportedly discovered.
Clonch was arrested and booked into the Putnam County Jail on preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a syringe and possession of a legend drug.
The charges will be reviewed by the prosecutor's office prior to Clonch's expected initial appearance in court on Monday.