Methamphetamine Prevalence In Starke County Adversely Affects Probation

Posted on Author WKVI

A post was recently made on the WKVI Discussion board that read, “I work at a local factory for minimum type wages. I have two children and a wife. We’re falling more and more behind every day. Selling meth is looking better all the time.”

Could the economy behind the methamphetamine epidemic in Indiana? John Thorstad, Starke County’s Chief Probation Officer, said the economy might be part of the answer, but fast, easy money is probably more of a reason for producing and selling methamphetamine. He did, however, say law enforcement is having great success in closing down operations here.

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Two Winamac Residents Arrested on Drug Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
Steven Neeley
Gina Napier

Two Winamac residents were arrested on drug charges on Sunday after police served an arrest warrant on a subject.

Officers from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department approached the house and asked Gina Napier who all was in the house. She said that she and her children were in the house. When police asked the whereabouts of Steven Neeley, she reportedly said she didn’t know where he was. Police saw him sitting on a bed in the home and ordered him out of the house as he had an active arrest warrant. He was taken into custody.

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Knox Resident Arrested on Methamphetamine-Related Charges

Posted on Author WKVI

A Knox man was arrested on Wednesday after Knox City Police and a Starke County Sheriff’s Department officer found drug-related items in his possession.

Police were called to the Super Value Inn in reference to a wanted person. Police saw the suspect, Matthew Hamilton, peeking out of a window at them from a room at the motel and asked him to open the door. He did and police ordered him to the ground. Police swept the room and found a bag of pills, a burnt spoon and hypodermic needles. Officers also found items reportedly used in the use of methamphetamine.

Hamilton, 22, was arrested on four active arrest warrants through Marshalll County and additional preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a Family Housing Complex and Reckless Possession of Paraphernalia.

Jacobs Receives Sentence for Methamphetamine Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
Traci Jacobs

Traci Jacobs received her sentence in the Starke Circuit Court yesterday. Jacobs pleaded guilty to Operating an Illegal Drug Lab as a Class D felony, and was sentenced to 12 months in the Department of Corrections with none of that sentence suspended. In a separate case, Jacobs pleaded guilty to Dealing in Methamphetamine as a Class B felony and received a ten-year sentence in the Department of Corrections, with two of those years suspended. Two years of her executed sentence will be allowed to be served on home detention.

Those sentences will run consecutively. Upon her sentencing, one cause was dismissed in which she was charged with Theft as a Class D felony, and Trespassing as a Class A misdemeanor, and another case in Knox City Court was dismissed as well.

Jacobs was arrested on active arrest warrants and on preliminary charges of Manufacturing Methamphetamine with Intent to Deal, Possession of Precursors, Illegal Drug Lab, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Paraphernalia on Thursday, November 17th.

James Sobieck Arrested on Drug Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
James Sobieck

A sex offender residence check resulted in the arrest of a suspect on drug charges.

Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department went to 11060 E. 400 N. in Grovertown and once on scene, they found several items on the property and inside a camper that are commonly used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Police obtained a search warrant and the warrant was executed with officers confiscating sulfuric acid, lye, solvent, methamphetamine, a one-pot method meth lab and an HCL generator.

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Two Knox Residents Arrested For Manufacturing Methamphetamine

Posted on Author WKVI

Two Knox residents were arrested after police found an active methamphetamine lab at their residence.

On Thursday, the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, along with the Indiana State Police conducted a search warrant at 4335 E. 200 S. in Knox and arrested Mary Fort on two valid Starke Circuit Court warrant for revocation of probation.

Indiana State Police officers received consent to search the property by all parties involved and they found an active one pot method methamphetamine lab, precursors, methamphetamine, and paraphernalia.

Randall Appleton was arrested after the search. Appleton and Mary Fort both face Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Maintaining a Common Nuisance.

Johnny P. Whitt, Jr. Arrested on Drug Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
Johnny P. Whitt, Jr.

Johnny P. Whitt, Jr. was arrested March 6th and faces methamphetamine-related charges after police received a report of a suspicious man at Zingo Express who purchased tin foil and salt, and asked if the store sold Zip-Lock bags.

When police arrived, they found Whitt leaving the store and walking to the Super Value Inn, just north of the Zingo Express. After entering the hotel, police monitored the building and followed him after he left, before pulling him over at the intersection of Delaware Street and U.S. 35 in Knox. The man was identified as Whitt, and marijuana was found on his person along with multiple packs of cold medication.

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Cheryl Paschen Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Cheryl Paschen

Cheryl Paschen was sentenced yesterday in Starke Circuit Court.

She pleaded guilty in plea agreement to two counts filed against her: Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Syringe.

Judge Kim Hall sentenced her to 18 months in the Indiana Department of Corrections with 6 months suspended on both charges. Both sentences will run concurrently and on home detention through Starke County Community Corrections. As a term of her probation, she will be entering into a drug rehabilitation program and she will need to complete treatment.

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Uninsured Meth Users May Contribute to Closure of Burn Centers

Posted on Author WKVI

Many burn centers are being taxed to the point of considering closing because they are being filled with uninsured burn patients who come in with meth related injuries.

Most of these patients are reportedly using a simple method of producing meth by putting ingredients in a two liter soda bottle. Just one simple error can cause an explosion, resulting in burns over the entire body.

The average medical bill is $130,000.

Police and medical officials are spreading the word about this dangerous practice.

Starke County Police Arrest Two on Warrants

Posted on Author WKVI
Anne Marie Geller
Aaron Armes

Two people have been arrested on warrants involving drug charges. In December, Starke County police conducted a search warrant on a camper located on 200 South in Knox and found several items associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine and other controlled substances and drugs. Police also searched an area in the woods and found other items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Arrest warrants were then applied for and approved for Aaron Armes and Anne Marie Geller who were known to live in the camper. Continue reading →

Winamac Man Charged with Felon in Possession of Firearm

Posted on Author WKVI
Ryan Clouse

A Winamac man was arrested after police found a gun and narcotics in his room at a residence of 475 W. in Winamac, on Monday, December 19th.

Pulaski County Sheriff’s deputies learned that Ryan Clouse, 39, is good friends with Matthew Nolte, who was recently arrested on methamphetamine related charges, and the pair may be manufacturing methamphetamine at the residence where Clouse was staying. Police arrived on scene and requested permission to search Clouse’s room. Police reportedly found narcotics in his possession and a loaded rifle. The officers asked Clouse if he was convicted of any felonies and he replied that he had. He was then told that a felon can not possess a firearm. He had a prior conviction of robbery in 1994 and he was arrested on a charge of Burglary by the Rochester Police Department in 2004. Police also asked if he had a prescription for the narcotics found in his room and he said no.

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Star City Man Arrested for Manufacturing Meth

Posted on Author WKVI
Matthew Nolte

Officers from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Star City man, Thursday, on manufacturing methamphetamine charges.

Police had received a call of possible drug activity at a Star City residence on State Road 119. When police arrived, they asked Matthew Nolte if they could search the residence. He reportedly agreed and police found a large trash bag on the property with two-liter bottles with an off-white substance. Officers determined that with the consistency of the substance and the odor emitting from the container, it was meth. Police also reportedly found several precursors that are used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

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Five Arrested after Officers Execute Search Warrant

Posted on Author WKVI
Nikki Givens
Kristen Webb
Brooke Webb
Zachariah Whitfield

Officers from the Knox City Police Department executed a search warrant at 605 South Portland Street.  Police learned of possible drug activity at the residence and executed a search warrant on Wednesday, November 23rd. Officers reportedly found methamphetamine, marijuana, controlled substances and paraphernalia at the residence. Five people were arrested as a result of the search warrant. Continue reading →

Knox Man Arrested after Meth Lab Found in Residence

Posted on Author WKVI
Lonzo Jackson, Jr.

Lonzo Jackson, Jr., 20, of Knox, was arrested on Saturday, November 26th, on drug charges after officers from the Knox City Police Department reportedly found a meth lab in his residence.

Police were called to 206 N. Cleveland Street and when they arrived they reportedly smelled a strong odor of ether. Officers attempted to get Jackson out of the house but were unsuccessful. Officers reportedly kicked in the north door and entered the residence. Officers announced their presence and found Jackson and two young children inside the house. The two children, who are Jackson’s brothers, were taken out of the residence and placed into the custody of the Department of Family and Children. Jackson was handcuffed and taken into custody.

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Denise Dalton Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Denise Dalton

Denise Dalton, 42, of Knox, received her sentence in the Starke Circuit Court on Thursday for Possession of Methamphetamine, as a Class D Felony. All other charges against her were dismissed, including Manufacturing Methamphetamine as a Class A Felony, Illegal Drug Lab, and Battery.

Dalton was sentenced to 18 months in the Department of Corrections with none of that time suspended. Her time will be served on home detention with electronic monitoring by Community Corrections, and was given 16 days credit for time served.

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Two Winamac Residents Arrested on Charges of Manufacturing Methamphetamine

Posted on Author WKVI

Two Winamac residents were arrested on Sunday on methamphetamine related charges.

Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department officers went to 301 N. East St. Lot 17 on a complaint that the residents were manufacturing methamphetamine. When officers arrived on scene, they reportedly found James Larvick, 43, and Jimmy Hopkins, 50, in the adjacent lot in the process of manufacturing methamphetamine. The suspects had trespassed onto the property to assemble the lab. The residence was unoccupied at the time of the incident. The Indiana State Police Clan Lab Team was called to clean up the scene.

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Knox Man Brought to Starke County to Face Meth Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
Warren Coffin, Jr.

Warren Coffin, Jr. , 47, of Knox, has been brought into the Starke County Jail to face several methamphetamine related charges against him from an incident in August 2010.

According to police, in August, officers were called to 7125 E. 50 S. on a complaint that Warren Coffin, Jr. may have left drugs on the property. Officers looked inside a vehicle that belonged to Coffin and saw items used to manufacture methamphetamine. When a search warrant was executed, methamphetamine was reportedly found in the vehicle along with drug paraphernalia and precursors. When Coffin’s information was run through the Sheriff’s Department, officers were alerted that he was wanted on a warrant out of Marshall County.

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Star City Man Arrested on Methamphetamine Related Charges

Posted on Author WKVI
Nathan VanDerAa

Nathan VanDerAa, 33, of Star City, was arrested in Monterey on Friday, June 3rd, on suspicion of Possession of Methamphetamine.

An officer from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department reportedly saw VanDerAa pass by him and noted that he was speeding on 700 North in the area of 450 East. As the officer was turning around to follow VanDerAa, the officer allegedly saw VanDerAa’s left hand reach out of the driver’s window and let go of a bright white bag. The officer retrieved the bag and it contained a white powdery substance that later field-tested to be positive for methamphetamine.

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Joseph Giselbach Sentenced in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Joseph Giselbach

Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall sentenced Joseph Giselbach to 10 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections, with no part of the sentence suspended, on a charge of Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Class B Felony and Possession of Methamphetamine, a Class D Felony.

Giselbach, 32, of Knox, plead guilty to the charges. Judge Hall will recommend to the Department of Corrections that Giselbach be placed into an intensive methamphetamine treatment program while in prison. If he successfully completes the program, he may petition to have his sentence modified.

Short Vehicle Pursuit Leads to Drug Arrest

Posted on Author WKVI

A short vehicle pursuit on Sunday, June 5th, lead to the arrest of a suspect on drug charges.

A Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department officer recognized Jeffrey Jacobs, 24, of Winamac, traveling on State Road 14 headed west in his truck. The officer initiated a traffic stop and Jacobs did not stop. Jacobs turned onto Logan Street and continued until heavy traffic forced him to pull over. When Jacobs stopped, he unfastened his seat belt and exited the the door. The officer ordered him to stop. Jacobs did stop and he was placed into custody.

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