An accused drug dealer is behind bars in LaPorte County after police there seized cash, cocaine and heroin during a traffic stop. Members of the LaPorte County Drug Task Force and patrolmen from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office stopped a car driven by 33-year-old Newell Cooper of LaPorte on last Thursday at the intersection of U.S. 20 and U.S. 35.
K-9 Jager indicated the presence of drugs in the vehicle, according to the incident report. A search turned up $2,700 in U.S. currency. Officers also found heroin and cocaine on Cooper. The drugs have an estimated street value of $1,500.
Cooper is jailed on a $50,000 cash bond and is expected to appear in court on Tuesday, Feb. 28.
LaPorte County Drug Task Force Commander Andy Hynek praised the detectives who investigated Cooper’s alleged activity and says the task force will continue to seek out those who bring heroin into the community.
LaPorte County EMS has responded to at least 15 recent heroin overdoses, with at least two deaths attributed to drugs.
