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Putnam County drug arrest key to dismantling Boone County drug ring
LEBANON -- The recent drug arrest in Putnam County of a Brazil man was the first domino to fall in dismantling what police are calling an "ongoing crystal methamphetamine network."
Douglas Michael Veach, 42, was arrested at the Cloverdale Holiday Inn on Thursday, Aug. 6 with two pounds of crystal meth, a firearm, currency and drug paraphernalia.
Although not referred to at the time, the arrest was part of an ongoing investigation by the Hamilton/Boone County Drug Task Force, a six-month probe they are calling operation "Glass House." One of the street names for crystal meth is "glass."
On Thursday, the results of the operation were announced in a release from the Carmel Police Department, one of the task force member agencies.
To date, detectives have arrested 17 individuals who were directly involved in the network.
During the investigation, detectives seized more than three pounds of crystal methamphetamine with a street value of $115,000, more than $8,000 in U.S. currency and two firearms.
Detectives found the flow of methamphetamine in Boone County to be coming from Veach, who had previous ties to Boone County. Court records also list a Russellville address for Veach.
Veach's arrest was a cooperative effort between the Hamilton/Boone Task Force, Putnam County Sheriff's Department and Clay County Sheriff's Department.
Veach may be facing federal charges as a result of this investigation.
The additional arrests, all of Lebanon residents, included: Jimmy Rees, Billy Smith, Alfonso Flores, Mendi Holloman, Robert Edwards, Lucas McIntyre, Michael Fosnight, Richard Martin, Christopher Starnes, Jeremiah Haughey, Daryl Prince, Tanya Ragsdale and Christopher Leckrone, all on felony methamphetamine and lesser charges.
Three more Lebanon residents were arrested as a result of the investigation on lesser, non-meth charges: Kaitlin Kemmerling, Melissa Edwards and James Williams.
The Hamilton/Boone County Drug Task Force is comprised of officers with the Fishers Police Department, Lebanon Police Department, Carmel Police Department, Zionsville Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.