Police: Woman hid drugs in her pants

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Less than a month after a Fort Wayne woman was arrested for allegedly smuggling marijuana to her husband in the Putnamville Correctional Facility, a Bloomington woman has been accused of a similar scheme.

Dawn Hendricks, 36, of Bloomington, was arrested on Sept. 15 and charged this week with attempting to traffic with an inmate, a class C felony, and possession of a controlled substance, a class D felony.

Indiana State Trooper Philip Lubbers made the arrest at the prison after officers there found the woman to be in possession of Zanax pills and morphine tablets along with $100 in cash, folded in an attempt to conceal.

Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter, who announced the charges Monday afternoon, said Hendricks placed the drugs in a plastic bag and hid it in the crotch area of her blue jeans while visiting Darrell Hendricks, an inmate at the correctional facility.

According to a police report, prison officials became aware of the trafficking scheme about a month ago after listening to telephone conversations where Dawn and Darrell Hendricks planned the acts.

"She is facing 11 years in prison if convicted," Bookwalter said.

Hendricks was released from the Putnam County Jail on her own recognizance because charges were not filed within 48 hours of her arrest. However, Bookwalter said he plans to seek a warrant for her to be arrested again.

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