I-70 commercial vehicle inspection results in arrest

CLOVERDALE -- A California truck driver was arrested on three felony charges Thursday afternoon following a traffic stop on Interstate 70 in Putnam County.

Items confiscated during Interstate 70 stop Thursday in Putnam County.

At 12:15 p.m., an Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement trooper stopped a 2011 purple Freightliner tractor for a routine commercial vehicle inspection on eastbound I-70 near the 43-mile marker, two miles east of the Cloverdale exit.

During the inspection and conversations with the driver, Tiran Bachkhyan, 56, of Pasadena, Calif., the trooper noticed possible indicators of criminal activity.

A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded approximately 9.4 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine, approximately 1.4 grams of suspected heroin and assorted drug paraphernalia items, along with 15 cloned debit cards containing stolen credit card numbers and personal information.

Bachkhyan was taken into custody and incarcerated in the Putnam County Jail on charges of possession of methamphetamine over five grams, a Level 4 felony; possession of narcotic drug, a Level 6 felony;, and forgery/counterfeiting, a Level 6 felony.

The semi was transporting medical supplies from California to Pennsylvania.