Bartholomew County Sheriff deputies arrested an Edinburgh man on multiple drug-related charges after a routine traffic stop in the Taylorsville area at 11:50 p.m. Sunday.
Deputies said Deputy Grant Carlson observed a vehicle leaving a gas station in the Taylorsville area after the driver failed to signal a turn on to U.S. 31.
As Carlson followed the vehicle, it merged on to I-65, traveling south where he observed it failed to maintain its lane.
Carlson initiated a traffic stop at the 71 mile marker, and during the traffic stop Deputy Dylan Prather and his K9 partner Frizko conducted a free air sniff of the vehicle. During the course of the roadside investigation, the driver, David Riddle 39, Edinburgh, admitted to having methamphetamine and heroin in the vehicle, said Sgt. Dane Duke, sheriff’s department spokesman.
A search of the vehicle resulted in locating four baggies containing a crystal-like substance consistent with methamphetamine and heroin, Duke said. During the search deputies also located two loaded pistol magazines, but no firearms were found inside the vehicle.
Riddle, who was found to be a convicted serious violent felon due to a felony conviction from a 2007 domestic battery case, admitted to having two handguns at his residence, Duke said. Riddle also admitted to being active member of a known criminal gang, the Hell Raisers, and evidence to confirm his active membership was found inside the vehicle and later at his residence. As the investigation continued, probable cause was developed which led to the granting of a search warrant for Riddle’s residence in the 800 block of South Walnut St in Edinburgh.
During the search of the residence deputies located further narcotics and narcotics equipment, Duke said. Two handguns were found inside the residence one of which was reported stolen out of Shelby County.
Evidence of narcotics dealing were also found inside the residence such as baggies, digital scales and cutting agent used to artificially increase the volume of narcotics.
Riddle was transported to the Bartholomew County Jail where he remains on a 48 hour hold on the preliminary charges of:
- Dealing in methamphetamine, Level 3 felony
- Dealing in cocaine or a narcotic drug, Level 4 felony
- Possession of methamphetamine, Level 5 felony
- Possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug, Level 6 felony
- Possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, Level 4 felony
- Unlawful carrying of a handgun, Level 5 felony
- Possession of a firearm by a domestic batterer, Class A misdemeanor
- Participation in a criminal organization, Level 5 felony
- Possession of stolen property, Level 6 felony
- Possession of a legend drug injection device, Level 6 felony
- Possession of a controlled substance, Class A misdemeanor,
- Possession of marijuana, Class B misdemeanor
- Possession of paraphernalia, Class C misdemeanor