Following too closely on I-70 yields marijuana and two arrests

CLOVERDALE -- A routine traffic stop along Interstate 70 in southwestern Putnam County Friday morning resulted in two arrests on drug-related charges, Indiana State Police at Putnamville reported.

Marijuana products confiscated by police Friday after a traffic stop along Interstate 70 in Putnam County. State Police photo

At approximately 10 a.m. Friday, an Indiana State Police trooper from the Putnamville District, spotted a 2018 Ford Expedition SUV reportedly following another vehicle too closely on eastbound I-70 near the 36-mile marker, five miles west of Cloverdale.

The SUV was stopped and several indicators of possible criminal activity were noted, including a positive alert by a Putnam County Sheriff's Office K-9 called to the scene for assistance.

Inside the vehicle, officers located an estimated 2.5 pounds of suspected marijuana that appeared to be packaged for sale and approximately two pounds of suspected marijuana constitute (hard candy).

Street value of the marijuana was listed at an estimated $10,500.

The driver was identified as 45-year-old Dolores Domenica Johnston of Chandler, Ariz., while the passenger was identified as 22-year-old Jace M. Earnest of New York, N.Y.

Both suspects were incarcerated in the Putnam County Jail on preliminary felony charges of dealing marijuana.

The case was investigated by the Indiana State Police with assistance from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.