Driving complaint results in Texas woman's drug arrest

PUTNAMVILLE -- A 30-year-old Texas woman was arrested on five criminal charges New Year's Day after the car she was driving was initially stopped for reckless driving.

A 2004 Volkswagen, driven by Mary S. Owen, of Allen, Texas, was one of two vehicles stopped by Indiana State Police officers for reckless driving on eastbound Interstate 70 at 5:49 p.m. Wednesday.

Mossberg rifle, syringes and pills confiscated during Wednesday evening drug arrest on Interstate 70 in western Putnam County.

Owen, who was lodged in the Putnam County Jail, is being held on charges of:

-- Possession of methamphetamine with a firearm, a Class C felony.

-- Possession of a controlled substance, a Class D felony.

-- Illegal possession of syringes, a Class D felony.

-- Theft, receiving stolen property, a Class D felony.

-- Possession of marijuana, a Class A misdemeanor.

The incident unfolded after Indiana State Police Region III Dispatch Center had alerted Putnamville District troopers of two vehicles reportedly driving recklessly near the 35-mile marker, six miles west of the Cloverdale/U.S. 231 exit.

Trooper Yan Dravigne noticed the two vehicles were following others too closely and stopped both vehicles for the traffic violation.

During the traffic stop, Trooper Dravigne developed information that led to him to search Owen's Volkswagen, police said.

The search revealed approximately three grams of marijuana, a syringe with methamphetamine, 23 various narcotic pain suppressant pills and numerous household items that had been reported as stolen in Texas.

The stolen items included a .22 Mossberg rifle, power tools and household electrical items.

The second vehicle was released after its driver was cited for reckless driving.

Assisting Dravigne at the scene were ISP Master Trooper Todd Brown and Trooper Ian Portteus.