Casey James Louden

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Casey James Louden, 28, 24286 Lynn Drive, Elkhart, was arrested on a warrant after he was stopped by Indiana State Police Tuesday evening, Aug. 11, on SR 13 in North Webster.

Louden was arrested on a warrant for possession of methamphetamine, a level 5 felony and possession of paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor.

The affidavit of probable cause, filed July 29 by Indiana State Police Lt. Chad Larsh, states on July 27 he observed a vehicle exceeding the speed limit on Old US 30, near CR 450E. The vehicle was stopped and Louden was a front seat passenger.

Larsh had found prior to the traffic stop the driver had been prohibited from purchasing pseudoephedrine at Walgreens. When he had the driver exit the vehicle, Larsh saw a plastic sandwich style bag. Inquiring about the bag, the driver removed a bubble wrap containing a glass smoking device with burnt residue.

A search of the vehicle found a earbud case containing several plastic bags. Those bags contained a white powdery substance, four coffee filters, cut portion of a straw and one knotted plastic bag corner, containing a moist white substance.

The substance was field-tested, testing positive for methamphetamine and weighing 6.4 grams.

The driver said Louden, another passenger and herself were going to smoke the meth, which was provided by either Louden or the passenger. While the driver was being booked in the county jail, a jail officer discovered a plastic cellophane in her possession containing a green plant material, testing positive of marijuana and weighing about 1 gram.

During questioning the driver stated she picked up Louden and the other male passenger in Warsaw and saw the passenger give Louden the container. Louden then put the container next to her seat as she had never been arrested for drugs.