Staff Report

WARSAW — Three people were arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop in Warsaw.

James A. Crouse, 65, 102 N. Main St., Sidney, is charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and possession of paraphernalia, both class C misdemeanors; possession of a narcotic drug and operating a vehicle with an ACE of 0.08 or more with a prior conviction, both level 6 felonies; and driving while suspended prior, a class A misdemeanor.

Marry Ann Meadows, 27, 5755 S. East Channel Road, Warsaw; and Thomas Dewey Calhoun, 41, St. Paul, Minn., are each charged with possession of a narcotic drug, a level 6 felony; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor.

On June 1, an Indiana State Police trooper was patrolling on US 30 in Warsaw when he saw a vehicle owned and driven by Crouse, who had a license status of suspended prior. The trooper pulled Crouse over, and Meadows and Calhoun were passengers inside the vehicle.

According to court documents, while searching Calhoun’s person, the trooper saw Calhoun drop a cut plastic straw behind him. Calhoun said he obtained the straw a gas station and it was unused. A K9 unit responded to the scene and positively alerted to illegal drugs inside the vehicle.

Officers with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, Warsaw Police Department, and Winona Lake Police Department assisted at the traffic stop.

Upon searching the vehicle, officers found drug paraphernalia and fentanyl.

Calhoun told officers he, Crouse, and Meadows went to South Bend, purchased heroin/fentanyl, and used the drugs. Meadows also said the group traveled to South Bend and used illegal drugs.

Crouse denied using any illegal drugs, but officers noticed he was exhibiting physical signs of intoxication. He failed several field sobriety tests and tested positive for opiates, amphetamines, and cannabis on a handheld device used by law enforcement.

While placing Crouse in a police vehicle, officers found a piece of a bag near Crouse’s person that tested positive for fentanyl.

Crouse has prior convictions for OWI and driving while suspended.

Meadows was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on June 1. She has a pretrial conference at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, June 26, in Kosciusko Superior Court One.

Calhoun has already been arrested and released on bond. He has an initial hearing at 8:15 a.m. Thursday, June 26, in Kosciusko Superior Court One.

Crouse was booked in KCJ on June 2.