Staff Report

Austin Lamarr McQuiller

WARSAW — A Warsaw man was recently arrested after officers found drugs and paraphernalia in an area where a child was living.

Austin Lamarr McQuiller, 27, 3966 E. 300N, Warsaw, is charged with possession of methamphetamine with enhancing circumstances and neglect of a dependent, both level 5 felonies; maintaining a common nuisance, a level 6 felony; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor.

On Oct. 28, Kosciusko County Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET43) and officers from multiple law enforcement agencies throughout the county arrested multiple people on drug-related charges in “Operation Jack-O-Lantern.”

As part of this operation, an arrest warrant for dealing methamphetamine was executed on McQuiller at his home. Due to previous gun and drug complaints at every building on the property, officers split into groups and simultaneously cleared each building for officer safety.

According to court documents, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s officer at the scene saw McQuiller walk into a two-story garage he lived in. While searching McQuiller’s person, officers found a loaded syringe containing methamphetamine, as well as a firearm.

While speaking with officers, McQuiller told officers that he has been trying to quit methamphetamine and hadn’t sold any in about a month. He also admitted that there were several stolen items on the property. With the information on the stolen property and drug paraphernalia, a search warrant was applied for.

Officers then spoke with a woman who was in the garage with a child. She gave consent for officers to search the garage where she, McQuiller and the child had been living.

While searching the garage, officers found a bag containing 0.2 grams of methamphetamine, multiple smoking devices, 14 syringes, two digital scales, numerous bags of different sizes, and two long rifles.

All of the items found in the garage were easily accessible and in the reach of the child living there. In August, NET43 officers purchased methamphetamine from McQuiller on two separate occasions. During one of the purchases, officers can hear a child on audio equipment as the purchase is occurring.

McQuiller was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Nov. 14, with a $10,500 surety and cash bond.