North Vernon man arrested by Bartholomew County narcotics task force
A North Vernon man was arrested Monday after a traffic stop in Bartholomew County uncovered a pound of methamphetamine in his vehicle.
According to the Columbus Police Department, the Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team received information that 30-year-old Logan Ashpaugh has been dealing meth in Bartholomew County. An investigation was begun and a county deputy and Indiana State Police trooper noticed Ashpaugh driving on Interstate 65 near Edinburgh Monday and tried to pull him over. However Ashpaugh refused to stop and tried to evade police near the outlet mall. The trooper used a maneuver to force Ashpaugh to stop his vehicle and he was taken into custody.
Columbus Police Department brought police dog Odin to the scene who alerted to the smell of drugs in the vehicle.
In addition to the pound of meth, the search also uncovered marijuana and a loaded handgun.
Ashpaugh is facing charges including:
- Dealing methamphetamine, a level 2 felony
- Possession of methamphetamine, a level 3 felony
- Possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a level 4 felony
- Resisting law enforcement with a prior conviction, a level 4 felony
- Possession of marijuana with a prior conviction, a class A misdemeanor
- Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a class A misdemeanor
The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, is a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office. It targets the manufacturing and abuse of dangerous drugs in Columbus and Bartholomew County.
Photos courtesy of Columbus Police Department