March 27, 2012
03/28/12 Steuben County – A traffic stop on the Indiana Toll Road on Monday night led an inquisitive group of troopers to more than 200 pounds of marijuana. Indiana State Trooper John Grant stopped the driver of an east bound green Chevrolet Z71 for unsafe lane movement near the 147 mile marker in Steuben County shortly before 11:00 p.m.
Purportedly Trooper Grant and Corporal Peter Bradley noticed what they suspected as bundled marijuana as the approached the vehicle. Apparently a tarp that was in place to conceal the drugs had moved slightly leaving the marijuana partially exposed. After speaking with the driver Corporal Bradley became even more suspicious of the man’s story and contacted state police K-9 officer Nicholas Meade. Trooper Meade walked his dog Sabre around the vehicle and the dog made a positive alert indicating that the vehicle may contain illegal drugs.
The troopers then obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and subsequently found several bundles of marijuana weighing more than 200 pounds. The marijuana has a street value of approximately $4,500 per pound.
The driver of the Chevrolet, Richard Ashley Parker II, 64, of Lake Forest, California, was arrested on charges of dealing marijuana, a class C-felony and possession of marijuana, a class D-felony. He is currently being held in the Steuben County jail.
*All subjects arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.