Traffic Stop Leads To Arrest Of Heckaman
WARSAW — Actions by John Howard Heckaman, 43, 12180 N. Creek Bend Lane, Milford, while driving in Warsaw resulted in his arrest Sunday, Aug. 27.
Heckaman has been charged with operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator, a level 5 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a level 6 felony; false identity statement, a class A misdemeanor; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor.
He was held on $10,250 surety and cash bond.
Events began when a Warsaw Police Officer observed a male driver in a red Hummer on Detroit Street in Warsaw. The driver had a turn signal engaged, but did not make the turn at the intersection. Instead the driver stopped the vehicle in the middle of the intersection, with the automatic signal being green. When the officer checked the vehicle registration, he learned it belonged to Heckaman and the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles reported him as a habitual traffic violator and suspended for life.
A traffic stop was then conducted and Heckaman identified himself as James Heckaman with a date of birth, telling police his brother was John Heckaman. However, police obtained a photograph of John Heckaman and determined he was the actual driver.
After the vehicle was impounded, police conducted an inventory search. They found paraphernalia with burnt marijuana, a plastic bag with a crystal like substance that tested positive for meth and weighed .4 grams. Another plastic bag was found with white residue that also tested positive for meth.