Trio arrested on drug charges after I-70 stop yields 10 grams of meth

Sunday, November 9, 2014

CLOVERDALE -- Three west-central Indiana residents were arrested on drug-related and other charges Saturday night when their vehicle was stopped on Interstate 70, a mile east of Cloverdale.

About 9:36 p.m., Indiana State Police Trooper Yan Dravigne of the Putnamville Post stopped a 1994 Dodge pickup for a defective license plate light in the westbound lanes of I-70 near the 42-mile marker.

Handgun, crystal meth and marijuana confiscated in I-70 stop Saturday night near Cloverdale.

During discussion with what he described as three nervous occupants, Dravigne noticed what appeared to be an odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle and other indicators of criminal activity.

While conducting a search of the pickup, Dravigne located a false compartment in the dashboard area. Inside the false compartment were 10 grams of marijuana, a .38 caliber handgun, and nine ounces of crystal meth, police said.

Authorities estimated the street value of the crystal meth at $10,000. Estimated street value of the marijuana was placed at less than $100.

Arrested in the incident and lodged in the Putnam County Jail were:

-- Driver Brandon Ross, 32, of Rockville.

-- Passenger Daniel Keller, 27, of Montezuma.

-- Passenger Meghan Hambright, 23, Terre Haute.

Preliminary charges for all three suspects are two felonies, dealing in methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine, and a pair of misdemeanors, possession of marijuana and possession of a handgun without a license.

Additionally, Hambright was found to be wanted on a probation violation warrant from Vigo County.

Driver Ross was cited for having no valid license.

Assisting at the scene were Trooper Kyle Hall and Putnam County Sheriff's Department deputies.

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