Staff Report

NORTH WEBSTER – A North Webster man was arrested after a K-9 search of his vehicle resulted in the discovery of drug activity.

Edward Earl Smith Jr., 43, 811 S. Main St., North Webster, is charged with dealing in a narcotic drug, a level 5 felony; possession of a narcotic drug, possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a legend drug, all level 6 felonies; driving while suspended, a class A misdemeanor; possession of marijuana, a class B misdemeanor; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor.

Edward Earl Smith Jr.

On Feb. 7, Smith was pulled over for failure to properly signal a lane change. The vehicle’s license plate was expired, and Smith was with a woman and a child at the time. While speaking with the occupants, both adults exhibited nervous behavior.

Smith was also operating the vehicle with a suspended license. A K-9 performed an outer air search of the vehicle and made a positive alert.

Officers then found a black bag containing 33 Kadian pills, which contain the narcotic drug morphine. The drug requires a prescription, which Smith did not have.

A smaller plastic bag within the black bag contained marijuana. Another bag contained one orphenadrine citrate pill, a substance that requires a prescription. A cut straw and other items commonly used to ingest illegal drugs were found.

Lastly, officers found a bag of a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. Smith said all the items belonged to him, and that he did not have a prescription for them.

The vehicle was searched, and more methamphetamine along with various other pills were found. Smith said that he is unemployed and uses illegal drugs; he also said he owed someone $200. Smith said he knew that morphine pills would sell for $20 each.

Bags commonly used for the distribution of drugs were also found. Officers believe that Smith would be using the bags to sell the morphine pills based on what was found, and comments made.

Smith was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on May 19.