2 arrested after pursuit; $225,000 in drugs recovered

Police arrested two people on drug-related charges and found about 5 pounds of methamphetamine in their vehicle, valued at $225,000 on the street.

The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team was about to serve a search warrant at 3345 Westenedge Drive, Columbus, at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday when the two suspects left the residence, police said.

When the two — later identified as Jorge H. Chavez, 38, and Jacklyn Munoz, 27, of that address — left in a vehicle, police attempted to stop them and a short pursuit ensued, police said.

The vehicle was stopped by Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department deputies and Columbus Police Department officers in the area of Seventh Street and Central Avenue, police said.

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Narcotics detectives obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and found about five pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $225,000 in the vehicle, police said.

Two firearms and more than $4,000 in cash also were found in the vehicle, police said.

Chavez was arrested on a preliminary charge of dealing in methamphetamine.

He was being held in the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $200,000 bond, jail officials said.

Munoz was arrested on preliminary charges of possession of a firearm by a serious felon, dealing in methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, maintaining a common nuisance, resisting law enforcement and an out-of-county warrant.

She was being held in the Bartholomew County Jail without bond, jail officials said.

“Any time we can stop 5 pounds of meth, or any dangerous drug, from hitting our streets, it is a win for law enforcement and a win for our entire community,” Sheriff Matt Myers said.

“These drug arrests spotlight the hard work of our local law enforcement officers,” Columbus Police Chief Jon Rohde said. “I am proud of the work that they do each day to get illegal narcotics off of our streets and help keep our community safe.”

The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team was assisted by the SWAT team, made up of Columbus police officers and sheriff’s department deputies, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force.

The team is a combined unit of the sheriff’s department, Columbus police and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s office in an effort to target the manufacturing and abuse of dangerous drugs.