Driver arrested after police find fentanyl in vehicle

Charles Russell

A Bartholomew County Sheriff deputy arrested an Indianapolis suspect accused of bringing fentanyl into Columbus from another community.

Members of the Intelligence-Led Policing Unit in Columbus received information about the fentanyl and Deputy Ryan Smith conducted a traffic stop at North U.S. 31 at Bear Lane on Tuesday, deputies said.

After making contact with the driver of a white Toyota Avalon, suspected fentanyl was located on passenger Charles Russell, 25, Indianapolis, deputies said.

Russell was taken to the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of:

Dealing in a narcotic drug – Level 4 felony

Possession of a narcotic drug – Level 6 felony

Russell remains in jail in lieu of a $272,500.00 bond, jail officials said. JNET assisted with the arrest of the suspect, deputies said.

JNET is a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office. ILPU is a combined unit with officers from the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office.