Hope residents arrested on multiple offenses

Columbus police arrested two Hope residents on drug-related charges after a traffic stop in the 800 block of Werner Avenue.

About 11:15 p.m. Tuesday, Officer Travis Harbaugh ran a license plate check on a red sport utility vehicle and the plate returned to a black passenger car, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.

Harbaugh stopped the vehicle on Werner Avenue and noted a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the SUV when speaking to the driver, Jermaine D. Ford, 31, 713 Vine Drive, Hope and passenger Cassandra R. Absher, 30, 624 Grand St., Hope, Harris said.

While searching the vehicle, officers found a loaded 9mm handgun and a bag containing marijuana along with more than $2,100 in cash. Officers also found three large bags of methamphetamine in a backpack and a digital scale, Harris said.

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When the two were taken to the Bartholomew County Jail, jail officers located two bags of methamphetamine and one bag of marijuana that Absher was accused of concealing in her clothing, Harris said.

Officers learned Ford had an Illinois arrest warrant for a probation violation, and also arrested him on charges of:

  • Possession of a handgun by a serious violent felon
  • Possession of a handgun without a license
  • Dealing in methamphetamine
  • Dealing in marijuana
  • Possession of methamphetamine
  • Possession of marijuana

Officers arrested Absher on charges of:

  • Two counts of possession of marijuana
  • Two counts of dealing in marijuana
  • Dealing in methamphetamine

Ford and Absher are being held in the Bartholomew County Jail without bond, jail officials said.