Arthur Crit Martin

WARSAW — A Nappanee man was recently arrested after an officer allegedly found him in possession of heroin.

Arthur Crit Martin, 32, 602 Vernon St., Nappanee, is charged with dealing in a narcotic drug, a level 5 felony; possession of a narcotic drug and possession of a syringe, both level 6 felonies; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor.

On Jan. 3, an officer with the Warsaw Police Department responded to a complaint regarding a syringe and blue plastic bag found in a trash can at a Lassus gas station. The officer spoke with an employee who said she had just changed a trash bag in the men’s restroom trash can and that only one man had used the bathroom since. The employee said the man left on foot and was heading toward the downtown Warsaw area.

According to court documents, the officer found the man on Buffalo Street and identified him as Martin. After some resistance from Martin, the officer conducted a pat-down and found a metal spoon and a blue plastic bag in one of Martin’s pockets. The plastic bag matched the one found in the trash can. The spoon had burn marks, court paperwork said.

Martin told the officer there were syringes in the bag. While searching the bag, the officers found five used syringes, one package of 10 new syringes and one digital scale. One of the used syringes tested positive for heroin. Also located on Martin’s person was one syringe and several small blue plastic bags. Located in one of the bags was 0.6 grams of heroin.

Martin admitted that he dealt heroin to his friends and said the used syringes were for the consumption of heroin.

Martin has already been arrested and released on his own recognizance. An initial hearing is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 9.