NORTH VERNON — North Vernon police arrested a driver on drug-related charges after she was found passed out behind the wheel of her minivan which was parked at North Vernon Elementary School.
Officer Mike Holliday was sent to the school on Thursday and found Frantisca E. Delpapa, 32, North Vernon, in the vehicle. School employees reported the woman was slumped down behind the wheel of her minivan, which was running, said Sgt. Andrew Richmond, North Vernon Police Department spokesman.
Holliday noticed signs that Delpapa appeared to be under the influence of drugs, Richmond said. When her van was searched, officers found a concealed glass methamphetamine smoking pipe and a hand-rolled marijuana cigarette, Richmond said. Officers also obtained a search warrant to obtain a blood sample from Delpapa.
Delpapa was taken to the Jennings County Jail and while being booked in, officers found a hidden metal tin in her clothing containing eight prescription pills identified as Clonazepam, Richmond said.
She was arrested on preliminary charges of felony trafficking with an inmate, felony possession of a controlled substance, felony possession of a legend drug, felony possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, operating a vehicle while intoxicated and public intoxication, Richmond said.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
