During the morning of March 27th, a Highway Interdiction Deputy from the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office was traveling east along I-80/90 near the 58-mile marker.
A Greyhound bus was traveling in front of the deputy passing other commercial motor vehicles. The deputy paced the bus and determined it was traveling in excess of the speed limit.
A traffic stop on the bus was initiated near the 61-mile marker and the driver was identified. As the stop progressed, a Sheriff’s Office narcotics detection K-9 was deployed around the exterior of the bus. The K9 provided a positive alert to the presence of narcotics aboard the bus.
Interdiction Deputies first searched the cargo area and eventually boarded the bus to begin speaking with the passengers. A backpack was located in an upper storage compartment near the front of the bus. The backpack was claimed by 47-year-old Artha Jackson of Chicago. A search of the backpack yielded a large amount of illegal drugs.
Jackson was taken into custody and transported to the La Porte County Jail (LCJ). He was arrested for the following offenses:
- Dealing in Cocaine, L2 Felony
- Dealing in Marijuana, F6 Felony
Jackson remains housed in the LCJ and is being held on a $50,000 cash-only bond through La Porte County Circuit Court.
The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office Highway Interdiction Unit is comprised of specially trained deputies who are focused on detecting and disrupting criminal activity, to include the movement of illegal drugs and weapons, fugitives, and criminal networks along major roadways.
Arrests and criminal charges are mere accusations. Every person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
