MILFORD — Three men from Elkhart County were arrested near Milford early Thursday morning, Oct. 8, after selling drugs to an individual and then being stopped by police.

Joseph Vaughn Humble

Joseph Vaughn Humble, 23, 925 Bontrager Ave., Elkhart, is facing charges of dealing in methamphetamine, level 2 felony; and possession of methamphetamine, level 4 felony. His bond was set at $25,000 surety and $250 cash.

Steven Michael Hemminger, 25, 2412 Southdale Drive, Elkhart, is facing charges of dealing in methamphetamine, a level 2 felony; possession of methamphetamine, level 4 felony; resisting law enforcement, level 6 felony; and operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator, a level 6 felony. He was held on $25,000 surety and $250 cash bond.

Adrian Scott Hardesty, 32, 201 N. Cottage Ave., Goshen, is facing charges of dealing in methamphetamine, level 2 felony and possession of methamphetamine, a level 4 felony. He was held on $10,000 surety and $250 cash.

Warsaw Police filed an affidavit of probable cause in Kosciusko Circuit Court Friday, Oct. 9. Documents state arrangements were made to purchase one ounce of methamphetamine from Hardesty at a cost of $1,400. The purchase was to occur at Stop and Go Gas Station in Milford.

Steven Michael Hemminger

The buyer met with Hardesty and two others in front of the business and then walked over to a Cadillac, where a conversation was held and the money exchanged. The Cadillac and its occupants then left the business.

The meth had been placed in a trash can. Police found a clear plastic cellophane wrapper and a plastic bag, both containing a white crystal like substance. That substance tested positive for meth and weighed 34 grams.

Undercover officers followed the Cadillac northbound from Milford, at which time Indiana State Trooper Luke Waikel used his marked police vehicle to pull in front of the Cadillac and activate his emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop. ISP Trooper Tim Carpenter went behind the Cadillac in his marked police vehicle. According to the court document, the driver of the Cadillac started swerving left and right in the roadway, hitting one of the undercover officer’s vehicles on two occasions before pulling over and stopping.

Police identified Hemminger as the driver; Hardesty as a front seat passenger; and Humble, a back seat passenger. A canine search of the vehicle’s exterior lead officers to a cigarette pack in the back seat containing a green plant material and a loaded handgun magazine. The green plant material was identified as marijuana, weighing less than 30 grams. Also approximately 50 yards south of the vehicle, police found $1,380 scattered along the roadway.

Adrian Scott Hardesty

Hardesty admitted he had arranged the sale of the methamphetamine and the purchase price. He stated when Hemminger, Humble and himself arrived at the business, he told them to clean the vehicle out and put the meth in the trash can. He then met with the informant, obtained the buy money and told the informant where to find the meth. He also admitted to police Hemminger and Humble knew what was going on and that he, Hardesty, had thrown the money out of the window of the vehicle.

Hemminger admitted driving the vehicle and knowing what was taking place.