ISP stop yields drug, documents charges for three men

Saturday, January 19, 2013
Diego Hernandez

Three men are lodged in the Putnam County Jail facing drug and counterfeit documents charges following an early-morning Friday traffic stop by Indiana State Police.

Diego Hernandez Mendoza, 29, and Ricard Zarate-Aguirre, 25, both of Mexico, were booked in on drug and illegal documents charges.

Ismail Ibrahim Ismail Khan, 30, Saudi Arabia, is being held only on drug charges.

At 1:30 a.m., Trooper Jonathan Cumbie clocked a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze at 83 miles per hour in the eastbound passing lane of Interstate 70 near the 30-mile marker. The posted speed limit is 70 mph.

As Cumbie activated his lights to stop the vehicle, he noticed a red can thrown from the passenger side of the rented vehicle into the roadway.

The vehicle then stopped without incident.

Cumbie's investigation revealed a small amount of marijuana in the red can as well as additional small amounts in the front and back seats.

Ricard Zarate-Aguirre

Additionally, Zarate-Aguirre and Mendoza appeared to have fraudulent Mexico government documents.

Zarate-Aguirre and Mendoza, the passengers, were booked in for possession of counterfeit government documents, a class D felony, and possession of marijuana (under 30 grams), a class A misdemeanor.

No bond was set for either man.

Khan is only facing the misdemeanor marijuana charge, and bond was set at $8,000.

Jail book-in records listed all three men's addresses as Covington, Ky.

Ismail Ibrahim Ismail Khan

The Putnam County Sheriff's Department assisted with the traffic stop.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: