Pulaski County K-9 Detects Drugs During Traffic Stop, Three Arrested

Pulaski County Sheriff's Deputy Travis Clark and K9 Gil
Pulaski County Sheriff’s Deputy Travis Clark and K9 Gil

Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Gil’s nose landed three people in jail Saturday night for various drug charges. He assisted with a traffic stop in the 3500 block of County Road 650 South in Pulaski County.

A truck driven by Jason B. Maroules, 36, of Knox, was pulled over for driving on the wrong side of the roadway, according to information provided by the sheriff’s department. He had two passengers with him. Paul Mast, 44, of Bourbon, was in the front seat. A female who repeatedly told the officers her name was Amanda Cooley but was found to be Heather Manns, 35, of Winamac, was in the back seat. She was arrested for false identifying.

Meanwhile, Gil’s handler walked him around the truck, and he reportedly indicated the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. Officers reportedly found a white powder substance inside an ashtray in the truck’s center console, several fentanyl pain patches and two smoking devices. The white powder and the smoking devices field tested positive for methamphetamine, according to the police report.

Maroules, Mast and Manns were all three arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of a Schedule 2 controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia and visiting a common nuisance. Formal charges are pending.