Ricky Anthony Johnson

Brittany Michelle Nelson

SYRACUSE — A male subject escaped from a patrol vehicle after he and a female subject were arrested for possession of methamphetamine.

Brittany Michelle Nelson, 32, 12380 N. Kings Drive, Syracuse, is being charged with possession of methamphetamine, a level 6 felony; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor.

Ricky Anthony Johnson, 38, 427 East CR 1150N No. 2, Milford, is being charged with escape, a level 5 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a level 6 felony; and driving while suspended, a class A misdemeanor.

On July 13, an officer with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department observed a yellow motorcycle with a male driver, later identified as Johnson, and a female passenger, Nelson, driving on the wrong side of the roadway.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, as the officer attempted to catch up to the motorcycle, it appeared the vehicle attempted to evade him and stopped at a residence.

As the officer approached the vehicle, he observed that Johnson’s driver’s license was suspended prior. He also observed the registration plate for the motorcycle had expired in 2016 and a marker had been used to make it appear to be 2018.

Officers arrested Johnson and searched him, discovering a plastic bag in his wallet that contained a white crystal substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. They arrested Johnson, handcuffed him and placed him in a patrol vehicle.

Officers spoke with Nelson, who advised a second male subject, identified as Andrew Warren, had a warrant for his arrest and was inside the residence. While arresting Warren, officers discovered two glass smoking devices in the residence. Nelson admitted to officers that she and Warren had smoked methamphetamine on July 12. Officers arrested Nelson for possession of paraphernalia.

While officers spoke with Nelson, Johnson removed one hand from the handcuffs, crawled through the cage opening of the patrol vehicle, opened the driver’s door and ran from the police cruiser. Officers were able to catch Johnson and place him back inside the patrol vehicle.

Officers transported both Johnson and Nelson to the Kosciusko County Jail. While changing Nelson into jail clothing, officers found a plastic bag containing a white powder residue that tested positive for methamphetamine.

Johnson and Nelson were both arrested and released on their own recognizances. Both have initial hearing dates set at 8:15 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 13.