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Pennsylvania man arrested on I-70 in Putnam County for transporting drugs
PUTNAMVILLE -- A 45-year-old Pennsylvania man was arrested Tuesday afternoon on drug-related charges after a routine traffic along Interstate 70 in southwestern Putnam County.
Donald R. Mattonen, 45, of Pitcairn, Pa., was arrested in the incident and incarcerated in the Putnam County Jail, Indiana State Police at Putnamville reported.
Mattonen is being held on charges of dealing marijuana, a Level 6 felony, and misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana and reckless possession of marijuana.
At approximately 12:35 p.m., an Indiana State Police trooper assigned to the Drug Enforcement Section stopped Mattonen's vehicle along eastbound I-70 near the 30-mile marker, 11 miles west of Cloverdale, for a violation of following too closely.
During the traffic stop, indicators of possible criminal activity were detected, State Police reported, and a subsequent vehicle search yielded more than one pound of high-grade marijuana, one ounce of marijuana wax and one ounce of marijuana extract -- all packaged for sale -- along with marijuana edibles.
Street value of the marijuana was estimated at $12,000.
Mattonen was reportedly en route from California to Pennsylvania when he was stopped.
The suspect was accompanied by his 15-year-old daughter, who was not involved in the illegal activity, and was released to the Indiana Department of Child Services of Putnam County.