Routine Traffic Stop Leads to Felony Drug Charge

Dubois Co. - A routine traffic stop conducted last Thursday, May 5, resulted in a felony drug charge for the driver, said Dubois County Sheriff Tom Kleinhelter.

Kleinhelter said Mark Douglas Scott, 32, New Salisbury, Indiana, is charged with a Level 2 felony for dealing methamphetamine.

“This arrest was the direct result of an alert officer who witnessed a minor traffic violation and followed up on that incident,” said Sheriff Kleinhelter. “The driver was allegedly dealing methamphetamine and officers were able to bring his operation to a halt. I commend their excellent work.”

The probable cause affidavit says that as Dubois County Sheriff’s Deputy Case Cummings was on duty around 8:20 p.m. last Thursday, he saw a silver Volvo SUV make a wide turn completely into the center turning lane as it exited a restaurant on U.S. 231. Cummings got behind the vehicle and saw it travel left of center. Officers had received an earlier complaint involving the vehicle earlier that same day.

When Cummings initiated a traffic stop, the vehicle came to an abrupt stop, turned onto a cross street, coming to a complete stop after striking a curb.

Cummings described the driver, identified as Scott, with his hands shaking uncontrollably. Sergeant Gogel arrived on scene with his narcotics K-9 officer. The K-9 alerted on the driver’s door. When Scott consented to a patdown and pocket search, officers saw a large amount of cash in his wallet totaling $2,042.

A search of the vehicle revealed a safe containing  52.1 grams of a white, crystal substance that tested positive for methamphetamine, along with a digital scale and plastic baggies. Officers also found a Glock 19 powered BB gun and magazine in the back seat, along with an Air Mag C11 CO2 powered BB gun and magazines. Both were loaded.

Scott, who was staying in a Jasper hotel, gave consent for a search of his hotel room where officers encountered two individuals, one of whom said he was there to give Scott a tattoo. The two said the items in the room belonged to Scott.

Officers found four glass smoking pipes alongside a line of a substance appearing to be meth on the counter. The two subjects in the room were released after speaking with officers and consenting to searches of their property.

Scott was arrested without incident and transported to the Dubois County Jail.

All charges filed in this case are merely allegations and all suspects are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.