Items found in door during search of impounded vehicle

NORTH VERNON — North Vernon police arrested a local man on felony drug-related charges after police found several small bags of heroin in a car door storage compartment after a traffic stop.

William C. Heilman, 23, of North Vernon, was arrested on a felony charge of dealing in a narcotic drug and felony possession of a narcotic drug after a traffic stop at 7:14 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Park Avenue and South Elm Street, said Sgt. Andrew Richmond, North Vernon Police Department spokesman.

Sgt. Tom Beam discovered that Heilman, who was driving a gold 1993 Toyota, had a suspended driver’s license and Beam was cited and released from the scene, Richmond said.

The vehicle was impounded because there was no other driver to release it to, Richmond said. During an inventory search of the vehicle, officer Isaac Barkes discovered several small bags of heroin in the storage compartment of Heilman’s car door, and Heilman was quickly located and arrested, Richmond said.

Items seized from Heilman included 3.4 grams of heroin and about $100 in cash, Richmond said.

Heilman is being held in the Jennings County Jail in lieu of $1,055 bond, jail officials said.