Cromwell Man Attempted To Bring Drugs Into County Jail
KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — A Cromwell man was recently pulled over for speeding when officers discovered drugs in the vehicle. While being booked, employees discovered more drugs the man had attempted to traffic into the jail.
Mark Anthony Rocha, 32, 9721 East Pixie Parkway, Cromwell, was booked for trafficking with an inmate, a class A misdemeanor; possession of marijuana, a class B misdemeanor; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Dec. 26, an officer with the Indiana State Police pulled over a vehicle for traveling 68 mph in a 55 mph zone. The vehicle included one driver and three passengers, one of whom was Rocha. While speaking with the occupants, the officer could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. At this point, the officer did not mention the marijuana and returned to his vehicle.
Once in his vehicle, the officer requested a second unit to assist him. When an officer with the Milford Police Department arrived, the two approached the vehicle again. Officers asked how much marijuana was in the vehicle and the driver responded that there was none.
During a search of the vehicle, officers discovered a bag in the trunk containing two glass smoking devices, two wooden smoking pipes, rolling papers, lighters and a glass jar containing marijuana. The officers attempted to discover who owned the marijuana. None of the occupants confessed.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Rocha admitted to owning the car. Rocha told the officer that he thought the marijuana belonged to one of the passengers, but could not confirm. Since Rocha owned the vehicle and the marijuana was in the trunk of the vehicle, he was taken in to custody and taken to the Kosciusko County Jail.
Upon arrival at the jail, Rocha exited the police officer’s vehicle. While watching Rocha exit, the officer observed a glass smoking device on the floor of the police car. The officer had checked the vehicle before placing Rocha inside, and was sure the device was not previously in the vehicle. Rocha denied that the smoking device was his.
Rocha was then booked into the jail. As the officer was leaving the jail, he was called back inside. A jail officer had located additional marijuana on Rocha’s person, and Rocha had admitted to the jailer he was hiding a plastic bag of marijuana in his crotch. At this point, Rocha admitted to the officer that the marijuana was his but still denied owning the smoking device located in the police car.