Walter Alan Vitalone, Jr.

KOSCIUSKO — A Warsaw man was arrested after officers discovered more than 40 grams of meth in his vehicle.

Walter Alan Vitalone Jr., 55, 221 N. Columbia St. Apt. E., Warsaw, is being charged with dealing in methamphetamine, a level 2 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a level 3 felony; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor.

On March 5, an officer with the Indiana State Police received information from an undercover officer that a vehicle had committed several traffic violations on Center Street. The officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and identified the driver as Vitalone. The officer had also received information that Vitalone had been dealing methamphetamine.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, an officer with the Warsaw Police Department used a K9 unit to conduct an outer air search of the vehicle. The K9 made a positive alert. Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered a glass smoking device containing burnt residue and a plastic bag containing 44.6 grams of methamphetamine.

Officers searched Vitalone and found $692 in cash and 10 Walmart gift cards. Vitalone said the Walmart gift cards contained approximately $100 and had been given to him as payment for methamphetamine. Vitalone admitted to dealing and possessing methamphetamine. The officer found the total balance on the 10 gift cards was $753.55.

Vitalone was convicted of dealing in methamphetamine over three grams on Aug. 25, 2005, in Kosciusko County Circuit Court. He was also convicted of dealing in a schedule I, II, or III controlled substance on Nov. 18, 2008, in Kosciusko County Circuit Court.

He was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on March 5, with a $25,250 surety and cash bond.