North Vernon officers make drug-related arrests

Two men were arrested on drug-related charges in North Vernon over the weekend after an investigation into drug trafficking.

According to the North Vernon Police Department, officers executed a search warrant at a home on Posey Street Saturday as part of the ongoing investigation.

Police say they found items used to consume methamphetamine, as well as amounts of methamphetamine and marijuana.

Allen Ritchie, of North Vernon, was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Possession of Paraphernalia, and Possession of Marijuana.

Fred Hartwell, of North Vernon, was arrested on preliminary charges of Maintaining a Common Nuisance and Possession of Paraphernalia.

Also on Saturday afternoon, a North Vernon officer stopped a speeding vehicle with the wrong license plates. A police dog was brought to the scene and alerted to the smell of drugs in the vehicle.

A search of the vehicle found drug paraphernalia, about four grams of methamphetamine and marijuana.

A passenger, Seth Lake of Salem was arrested on preliminary charges for possessing the drugs and paraphernalia.