Recently, six law enforcement agencies in north-central Indiana teamed up to enforce traffic laws and help stem the flow of illegal narcotics into Hoosier communities.
Officers from the Indiana State Police, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Wabash County Sheriff’s Office, Logansport Police Department, Wabash Police Department, and Fairmount Police Department utilized marked and unmarked police cars to conduct saturation patrols on U.S. 31 in Miami and Fulton Counties along with I-69 in Grant County. ISP conducted additional saturation patrols in Kokomo in response to multiple festivities. Patrol officers were augmented by K-9 officers utilizing narcotic-detecting police dogs.
The goal of these saturation patrols was to enforce traffic laws, catch individuals who utilize Indiana roadways to transport and distribute illegal narcotics, and catch impaired motorists. U.S. 31 and I-69 were chosen because a large volume of motorists use this roadway to travel through the heart of northern Indiana. Officers wanted to serve notice that as the summer temperatures increase, so will their vigilance in keeping illegal narcotics from reaching Hoosier communities.
Between June 20 and June 25, officers made 73 criminal arrests on 163 charges, most of them drug-related, including 26 felonies. They also issued 94 traffic citations and 298 written warnings. Nine arrests were for driving while impaired. Over the course of the operation, officers seized cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, edible marijuana products, MDMA, THC oil, ketamine, prescription medications, and drug paraphernalia.
“This is the twelfth year we have organized a summer driving season kickoff patrol,” stated Indiana State Police Sergeant Andrew Smith. The Indiana State Police want to remind drivers to follow all traffic laws for the safety of everyone using Indiana roadways. Summer is a peak travel time with an increased volume of motorists, and this patrol should serve as a warning that officers will utilize all the resources at their disposal to catch and arrest the few who transport illegal drugs.
Citizens are encouraged to call their local law enforcement agencies with information about the possession, distribution, or selling of illegal narcotics. Information can also be reported anonymously by calling the Indiana State Police Drug and Gang Hotline at 1-800-453-4756.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.