By Emma Rausch
emma@thepaperofwabash.com
HOWARD COUNTY, Ind. – Four Howard County residents are facing felony drug charges in Wabash County following a routine traffic stop.
Huntington County Deputy Marshal Matthew Farthing performed a traffic stop near County Road 750 East in Wabash County on March 29 after a vehicle, which displayed improper plates, had traveled west on U.S. 24 across the county line from Huntington County, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Due to the traffic stop crossing the Huntington County line, the four face charges in Wabash County.
During the stop, Farthing determined one of the vehicle’s three passengers had provided false information. As the only officer at the scene, Farthing initiated a search of the person, who was later identified as Aaron F. Smith, 22, Russiaville, for his protection and located a handgun in Smith’s waistband, the court documents continued.
The officer ran the handgun’s serial number and it returned as stolen out of the Kokomo Police Department, according to the affidavit.
Indiana State Police Sgt. Daniel Prus and Trooper Douglas Waver arrived at the scene to assist Farthing. Prus advised he smelled an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and conducted a search, the court documents continued.
During the search, the officers located a secondary gun in the vehicle’s trunk, Pringles can containing 9.4 grams of a crystal in a hidden compartment, a bag of a similar substance in a jacket pocket that weighed 29.2 grams and a large bag with 230.8 grams of a similar substance, according to the affidavit.
The secondary gun serial number returned as not stolen, however, the substances all field-tested positive for methamphetamine, the document continued.
Smith was arrested and charged with on felony dealing in methamphetamine, felony possession of methamphetamine, felony theft of a firearm, misdemeanor carrying a handgun without a license, misdemeanor false informing and felony carrying a handgun without a license.
Officers also arrested passengers Zachary D. Shuck, 22, Kokomo, and Kelsey T. Etherington, 26, Kokomo, as well as the driver Kiley M. Stackhouse, 21, Kokomo.
Shuck was charged with dealing in methamphetamine, felony possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor carrying a handgun without a license.
Stackhouse was charged with possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor carrying a handgun without a license.
Etherington was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor false informing.