Three arrested following traffic stop on Courthouse Square

Multiple police convene on Putnam County Courthouse Square late Thursday night as Putnam County sheriff’s deputies lead an investigation into the contents of the vehicle.

Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

Three people were arrested early Friday morning after police stopped a vehicle on Putnam County Courthouse Square in Greencastle.

Putnam County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeffery Freeman initiated the stop at Jackson and Franklin streets around 12:15 a.m., as multiple officers from the sheriff’s department, Greencastle Police Department and DePauw Public Safety converged on the scene.

Police placed three people in custody as they investigated the contents of the car.

In the hours that followed, three people were booked into the Putnam County Jail with Freeman listed as the arresting officer.

• Gina Nicole Ballenger, 31, Knoxville, Ala., was booked in at 1:09 a.m. for unlawful possession of a syringe, possession of methamphetamine and possession of paraphernalia.

• Paul Dexter Ray, 65, Tuscaloosa, Ala., was booked in at 3:53 a.m. for possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia and driving while intoxicated.

• Jesse Lee Harris, 36, Indianapolis, was also housed at the jail at 1:46 a.m. on a Marion County warrant.