Putnam Scanner 7-12-17

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Indiana State Police

A Cloverdale woman was arrested Monday evening on drug charges following a traffic stop in eastern Putnam County.

At 6:17 p.m., Indiana State Police Trooper Colton Maynor stopped a 1999 Ford Explorer on eastbound U.S. 40 near State Road 75 for expired registration and failure to signal a turn.

During the course of the traffic stop, several indicators of possible criminal activity were noticed. Tooper Ian Portteus and K-9 officer Czar also responded to the scene.

Czar gave a positive indiction of illegal drugs. A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded approximately five grams of suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in the driver’s purse.

Numerous personal electronic communication devices were also scattered about the vehicle.

The driver, 32-year-old Laura K. Nicholas, was taken into custody without incident and incarcerated in the Putnam County Jail. She was also found to not have a valid driver’s license.

Nicholas was preliminarily charged with felony possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia, as well as numerous traffic violations.

The investigation into the electronic devices is ongoing.

Assisting were ISP Master Trooper DuJuan Presley-McFadden and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

City Fire

The Greencastle Fire Department recently responded to four dispatches, two lift assists and one medical run.

• At 12:47 p.m. on Sunday, GFD responded to a fire alarm at 109 W. Hanna St. The first-floor alarm was determined to have been activated unnecessarily due to cooking. GFD reset the alarm and returned to station at 12:56 p.m.

• At 2 p.m. on Monday, GFD responded to a fire alarm at 333 S. 10th St. The alarm was determined to have been activated unnecessarily due to a malfunctioning riser. GFD reset the alarm and returned to station at 2:18 p.m.

• At 2:45 p.m. on Monday, GFD assisted the Reelsville Fire Department with the extinguishment and overhaul of a single-vehicle fire at 6871 S. County Road 445 West. GFD returned to station at 3:48 p.m.

• At 6:42 p.m. on Monday, GFD performed a service call, assisting a resident at 1216 S. Bloomington St. with the replacement of multiple aging smoke detectors, which were deemed faulty upon inspection. GFD subsequently returned to station at 6:56 p.m.

Information included in the Putnam Scanner is taken from reports provided to the Banner Graphic by the Greencastle Police, the Greencastle Fire and the Putnam County Sheriff’s departments.

Individuals listed in the blotter have been arrested on probable cause and have not been formally charged. Charging information may change after an initial arrest.

Questions about listed charging information should be directed to the arresting agency.