An Edinburgh man was arrested on child neglect and drug-related charges after Columbus police located drug paraphernalia inside his vehicle while he was transporting a child.
At about 12:50 a.m. Sunday, Columbus Police Department officer Drake Maddix saw a truck driving in the area of 25th street and Fairlawn Drive in Columbus with an obstructed plate, and also observed the driver fail to signal upon making a turn. The vehicle pulled over in the 2500 block of Fairlawn Drive, and Maddix made contact with the driver, who initially provided a false name, said Sgt. Alyson M. Rech, department spokesperson.
Officers confirmed the driver’s identity as 54-year-old Brian K. Gabbard, learned that he had two Bartholomew County warrants for his arrest and determined that he was operating a vehicle with a license status of habitual traffic violator. Officers also noticed that Gabbard had a young child inside the vehicle with him, Rech said.
Officers arrested Gabbard, and while they searched him, located a syringe in his pants pockets. Officers recovered several additional syringes inside the vehicle, including beneath the seat where the child was sitting. Officers also located a large digital scale, a marijuana grinder, a glass smoking pipe with marijuana residue, and a glass smoking pipe with methamphetamine residue inside the vehicle, Rech said.
The child was later released to a family member, Rech said.
Gabbard was transported to the Bartholomew County Jail and booked in at 1:30 a.m. Monday, remanded on the following preliminary charges:
- Bartholomew County warrant
- Body attachment warrant
- Operating a vehicle after a lifetime suspension, Level 5 felony
- Possession of methamphetamine, Level 6 felony
- Possession of a legend drug-injection device, Level 6 felony
- Neglect of a dependent, Level 6 felony
- Possession of paraphernalia: Class C misdemeanor
- False informing: Class B misdemeanor
Gabbard was being held in the Bartholomew County Jail on $15,938 bond, jail officials said.
