Bartholomew County Sheriff deputies arrested four people after an employee reported they were acting suspiciously at a business in the area of East State Street.
Deputies were notified at 2:46 p.m. Friday that two females and a male entered the business and started to take a photo, while another male walked around, deputies said.
The individuals left the store in a black Ford Focus. Deputy Brent Worman found at the vehicle at State Road 46 and U.S. 31, with four people inside.
Worman made contact with the driver identified as Ryan Chandler, 40, Edinburgh. Deputy Matt Bush arrived to assist him, deputies said.
K9 Diesel alerted to the odor of narcotics in the vehicle, deputies said. During a vehicle search, a detergent bottle was found with several types of pills inside along with a crystal-like rock substance inside a bag, deputies said. Multiple other baggies, scales and paraphernalia were also found.
Chandler was arrested on preliminary charges of possession of paraphernalia and maintaining a common nuisance, deputies said. He was released from the Bartholomew County Jail on the county’s pre-trial diversion program with a bond set at $10,000 bond, jail records show.
Passenger Leslie Houchin, 33, Endinburgh, was arrested on a preliminary charge of visiting a common nuisance. She was released from the Bartholomew County Jail on the county’s pre-trial diversion program with a bond set at $3,500 bond, jail records state.
Passenger Amy McPherson, 36, Indianapolis, was arrested on preliminary charges of visiting a common nuisance and possession of paraphernalia. She was released from jail after posting $6,000 bond, jail records state.
Passenger William Carey, 47, Greenwood, was arrested on preliminary charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine and visiting a common nuisance. Carey’s bond was set at $66,000 and he was released on the county’s pre-trial diversion program without having to post bond.
For more on this story, see Monday’s Republic.