Brandon Charles Carpenter

WARSAW — A Syracuse man was recently arrested after officers responded to a report of a suspicious person and discovered drugs.

Brandon Charles Carpenter, 32, 8727 E. Hatchery Road, Syracuse, is charged with operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator, possession of a narcotic drug, and possession of a syringe, all level 6 felonies; resisting law enforcement and possession of marijuana sentence enhancement, both class A misdemeanors; possession of marijuana, a class B misdemeanor; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor.

On July 31, a Warsaw Police officer responded to a report of a man in a puffy jacket, black mask and sunglasses looking at the cameras at a Murphy gas station at an undisclosed location in Kosciusko County. Dispatch said gas station employees believed the man was conducting drug transactions outside of the gas station.

According to court documents, officers arrived at the gas station and learned that the man had entered Great Clips Hair Salon. A customer at the hair salon told officers that the man who walked into the store made him uncomfortable. Officers entered the store and identified the man as Carpenter, who appeared to be under the influence of drugs. Officers also discovered that Carpenter was a habitual traffic offender. When officers attempted to handcuff Carpenter, he resisted and was taken to the ground.

While searching Carpenter, officers found  three hypodermic needles and a smoking device, which smelled of burnt marijuana. Officers also found a prescription pill identified as Suboxone, a schedule 3 controlled substance, and a vape pen that smelled like marijuana. Officers tested one of the needles and it tested positive for heroin.

Carpenter was previously convicted of possession of a narcotic drug on Jan. 19, 2017. He was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on July 31, with a $5,250 surety and cash bond.