Recent arrests tied to Clay investigation
A pair of men lodged in the Putnam County Jail since Saturday on methamphetamine charges are allegedly tied to a drug investigation going on in Clay County since late last year.
Matthew B. Hoskins, 36, Brazil, and Justin E. Reedy, 29, Terre Haute, were both booked in the Putnam County Jail on charges of Level 2 felony dealing in methamphetamine and Level 3 felony dealing in methamphetamine.
The two men were reportedly stopped by Putnam County sheriff’s deputies on U.S. 40 and found to be in possession of a large amount of methamphetamine.
Hoskins also had four charges pending in Clay County, including two counts of Level 2 felony dealing in methamphetamine and two counts of Level 3 felony possession of methamphetamine.
On Tuesday, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Vigo County Drug Task Force concluded the investigation with eight additional arrests that bring the total arrests to 18, in addition to approximately two pounds of methamphetamine and three firearms.
Arrested on Tuesday in Clay County were Susan Burrows, 35, Brazil; Kristie Whitlock, 34, Brazil; and Joseph Stearley, 44, Brazil.
Warrants were also served in Parke County Tuesday, resulting in the arrests of Heidi Harper, 34, Mansfield; David J. Ziemendorf, 39, Mansfield; Taylor Talbot, 35, Brazil; and Ronald Crowder, 59, Brazil.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office reported that the investigation began in late 2016 when Gabriel Pearce, 41, of Brazil, was arrested for Level 2 felony possession of methamphetamine in Clay County.
What followed were several arrests in the spring and summer on various meth-related charges, culminating with the events of recent days.
The investigation has included the cooperation of at least 10 different law enforcement agencies across West Central Indiana.