March 7, 2011
03/07/11 On Friday, March 4th at approximately 3:00 p.m. County Police Officer Les McFarland made a traffic stop at the intersection of US 30 and Pioneer Drive in Plymouth on a 1995 Nissan for having windows that were too darkly tinted.
During the traffic stop McFarland detected an odor of burnt marijuana from within the vehicle. He also suspected that the driver, 23 year old Howard Broadway, Jr, of South Bend was driving on a suspended license.
The front seat passenger was identified as Norvia Pittman 19, of South Bend and the back seat passenger was identified as Rakeesha Lane 20, of South Bend. The subjects within the vehicle did explain to Officer McFarland that they allegedly been smoking marijuana prior to the traffic stop. The vehicle was searched and a substance that appeared to be marijuana was recovered.
Norvia Pittman and Rakeesha Lane were transported to Marshall County Jail by Officer Rob Hafke for possession of Marijuana, under 30 grams. Officer McFarland transported Howard Broadway, Jr. to Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Plymouth for a chemical test.
Broadway was later booked into the County Jail for possession of Marijuana, under 30 grams and Operating While Intoxicated under a controlled substance. All three subjects had bonds set at $1000.00 cash. Rakeesha was bonded out at 6:15 Friday night while Broadway was release Friday night at 10:25 after posting bond and Pittman’s bond was posted at 2:20 Saturday morning and he was released.
They are scheduled to appear in Marshall County Superior Court 2 on March 22nd. A case report will be completed and forwarded to the Marshall County Prosecutor’s office for review and formal charges.