Cops find meth in vehicle, hotel room

STEUBEN COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) – An early Friday morning traffic stop led police to find meth and pot inside a Steuben County man’s vehicle and even more meth inside a hotel room.

According to the Steuben County Sheriff’s Department, Joshua Hardy, 22 of Hamilton and Jesse Powell, 20 of Angola were pulled over for a traffic violation around 3:30 a.m. on State Road 120 near the County Road 50 W intersection.

During the stop, the officer’s K9, Kash allegedly found meth, pot, prescription pills and paraphernalia along with a 9mm handgun under the driver’s seat.

Hardy was arrested for possession of methamphetamine with a firearm, Class C Felony, possession of a controlled substance, Class D Felony, and possession of marijuana – Class A Misdemeanor. Powell was arrested for possession of methamphetamine – Class D Felony, possession of a controlled substance – Class D Felony, and possession of marijuana – Class A Misdemeanor.

When Powell was arrested, he gave the deputies a key to a room at a nearby hotel and asked them to return the key to the manager.

While returning the key, the manager went to the room and smelled a strong chemical odor.

Deputies suspected the odor was from a meth lab and while searching the room, found numerous chemicals and items used to manufacture methamphetamine and well as what was suspected to be marijuana.

Powell was subsequently charged with possession of two or more precursors with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine – Class D Felony.

Hardy is being held on a $32,500 preliminary bond while Powell is being held on a $40,000 preliminary bond, pending their initial hearing.