Staff Reports
A JNET narcotics investigation lasting several months ended early Friday morning after a Lafayette man was stopped by CPD Intelligence Led Policing Unit officers, followed by CPD K9 Argo alerting to the odor of narcotics in the man’s vehicle.
Officers stopped the vehicle driven by Phillip Rothbauer, 45, of Lafayette, and during a search of the vehicle, the officers located syringes, drug paraphernalia, a controlled substance, as well as 4 pounds of methamphetamine, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
Rothbauer was placed under arrest and transported to the Bartholomew County Jail where he was being held on the following preliminary charges:
- Dealing in methamphetamine
- Possession of methamphetamine
- Possession of a controlled substance
- Possession of a legend drug injection device
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
Additional charges are possible in this ongoing investigation, Harris said.
The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office, created to proactively target the manufacturing and abuse of dangerous drugs in Columbus and Bartholomew County.
