Dustin Alsman

WINONA LAKE — A man from Winona Lake is facing charges of possession of meth and criminal recklessness while armed with a deadly weapon after traffic stop.

Dustin Lee Alsman, 28, 1202 Wooster Road, Winona Lake, is being charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of a syringe and criminal recklessness while armed with a deadly weapon, all level 6 felonies, and driving while suspended and criminal mischief, class A misdemeanors.

On Jan. 10 an officer with the Warsaw Police Department observed a purple Ford Ranger spinning its tires and accelerating. The officer observed the vehicle exceeding the posted speed limit and changed lanes without signaling. The officer activated his emergency lights to make a traffic stop.

The affidavit states that the vehicle swerved like it was going to make a right turn before suddenly turning left into a parking lot, running into and through an overhead garage door at Union Tool. The officer approached the vehicle as the subjects were attempting to exit but could not due to debris. The officer believed they were attempting to run. A passenger was in the car with Alsman, but no charges were pressed against the passenger.

According to the affidavit, the officer removed the subjects from the vehicle and identified the driver as Dustin Alsman. The officer gave Alsman three sobriety tests. Alsman failed them all and refused to submit to a chemical test. The officer found that Alsman’s driver’s license is suspended.

The officer used the department canine to conduct on outer air search of the vehicle. The canine alerted to the presence of illegal drugs. Officers searched the vehicle and found two oval blue pills, later identified as the schedule IV substance alprazolam, and a hypodermic needle.

The officer obtained a search warrant for Alsman’s blood and transported him to Kosciusko Community Hospital. While at the hospital, the affidavit states the officer observed fresh needle tracks on Alsman’s right arm. According to the affidavit Alsman admitted he injects half a gram of methamphetamine every other day, last injecting on Jan. 10. He does not have any valid prescriptions.

The affidavit also states that Alsman admitted to intentionally running his truck into the building in an attempt to commit suicide. He was driving very fast and yanked the steering into oncoming traffic, which was the first spin of tires the officer had observed, before intentionally running into Union Tool.

Officers searched Alsman and on his person found a plastic bag that contained .4 grams of a white powder that field tested positive for methamphetamine.

Alsman was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on Jan. 11 with a $5,250 surety and cash bond.