'Slowpoke Law' enforcement results in another drug arrest, recovery of stolen handgun

LITTLE POINT -- For the second time in less than a month Indiana's so-called "Slowpoke Law" has resulted in a drug-related arrest along Interstate 70 in west central Indiana.

This time the incident occurred at the 52-mile marker, 11 miles east of Cloverdale, near the Little Point exit in western Morgan County.

Heroin, marijuana and a stolen handgun were recovered after a traffic stop made on Interstate 70 in conjunction with Indiana's Left Lane Law.

At 12:01 p.m. Wednesday, an Indiana State Police trooper was patrolling I-70 when he observed a white 2006 Range Rover traveling westbound in violation of Indiana's Left Lane Law -- or "Slowpoke Law" -- which permits police to ticket motorists in the left lane if they hold up faster drivers behind them and don't move to the right.

The Range Rover was reportedly impeding traffic for several miles, State Police said, forcing other motorists to pass on the right.

A traffic stop was initiated and during the stop, several indicators of possible criminal activity were detected, police said.

A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded 47 grams of heroin with an estimated street value of $4,000 and 134 grams of marijuana with an estimated street value of $1,000.

Also discovered was a handgun that was reported stolen from a Michigan gun store back in April.

Arrested was Shannon Hadley, 42, Detroit, charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, dealing in a narcotic drug and possession of marijuana.

Hadley was lodged in the Morgan County Jail at Martinsville.

In a similar Nov. 30 incident, the "Slowpoke Law" allowed a state trooper make fast work of a couple of drug suspects in Putnam County who were transporting 11 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $33,000 street value.

That arrest occurred near the 40-mile marker, a mile west of the Cloverdale, when the trooper observed a black Subaru Forester traveling eastbound at 57 mph in the passing lane of a posted 70-mph zone.

Also located were one ounce of suspected cannabis powder, 12 suspected controlled substance pills and one gram of suspected methamphetamine.

Arrested and lodged in the Putnam County Jail as a result of the Nov. 30 stop were:

-- Daniel Wade, 30, Longmont, Colo., on a felony count of dealing marijuana and a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana.

-- Veronica McClam, 25, Beaufort, S.C., on a felony count of dealing marijuana; a felony count of possession of marijuana; a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana; and a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance.