A traffic stop in North Judson Friday, May 24 resulted in the arrest of two people.
An officer from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office conducted the traffic stop near the intersection of Schricker Avenue and Weninger Street in North Judson after observing a vehicle with an inoperable tail light and noticed the vehicle had a loud, altered exhaust system.
The two occupants in the car were asked to step out of the vehicle after the officer reportedly witnessed one of the passengers attempting to place something inside her purse. A North Judson Police Department officer arrived at the scene for assistance. Starke County K9 Robby was deployed to conduct a free air sniff around the vehicle and he alerted to the odor of illegal narcotics inside the vehicle, according to the report. A search of the vehicle resulted in the collection of a large clear bag that contained a crystal-like substance that reportedly field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
Both occupants, Ladonna Bradley and Bethany Clary, were transported to the Starke County Justice Center. While at the Justice Center, officers located a clear bag in the back seat of the police vehicle where Bradley was reportedly seated which contained a crystal-like substance. She allegedly stated she had removed the bag and a torch lighter from her sock. The bag located inside the North Judson officer’s vehicle field tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine with a total weight of 6.41 grams, according to the report.
Clary allegedly admitted to officers she had methamphetamine, a glass pipe and marijuana seeds inside an undergarment. After allegedly admitting that to officers, her handcuffs were removed and she was allowed to remove the items. Clary then removed a clear bag containing a white crystal-like substance that reportedly field tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine with a total weight of 4.15 grams. A glass pipe that contained a white residue reportedly field tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine.
Both Bradley and Clary were booked into the Starke County Justice Center on preliminary felony charges of possession of methamphetamine and obstruction of justice, along with misdemeanor charges of possession of paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.
Formal charges will be determined by the Starke County Prosecutor’s Office.
Suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
