Traffic Stop Lands Four in Jail on Drug Related Charges

Last night at approximately 6:50 p.m. Trooper Ross Johnson was conducting traffic enforcement on US 50 near State Road 57.  While conducting a traffic stop, with emergency lights activated, an oncoming vehicle failed to move over or yield the right-of-way, to his stationary emergency vehicle.  Trooper Johnson quickly ended that traffic stop and stopped this violator just north of the US 50/State Road 57 junction in Washington.  Upon talking with the occupants Trooper Johnson suspected that illegal drugs maybe in the vehicle.

Washington Police Officer Case Cummings and his K-9 partner Diesel arrived to assist.  Officer Cummings and Diesel conducted a free air sniff around the vehicle and Diesel indicated to the presence of narcotics.  A search was then conducted to which, methamphetamine, marijuana, synthetic marijuana, and other items commonly associated with illegal drug use were located.  All four occupants were taken into custody without incident and transported to the Daviess County Jail.

As a reminder, under Indiana law, when approaching an authorized stationary emergency vehicle that has emergency lights activated, a person who drives an approaching vehicle shall:

(1) proceeding with due caution, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that of the authorized emergency vehicle, if possible with due regard to safety and traffic conditions, if on a highway having at least four (4) lanes with not less than two (2) lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle; or

(2) proceeding with due caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle to a speed at least ten (10) miles per hour less than the posted speed limit, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions, if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe.

Arrested and Charges: