Vigo County---Troopers from the Putnamville Post conducted a DUI checkpoint on Saturday evening March 10 from 10:00PM until 12 midnight. The checkpoint was just west of the Wabash River on US 40 near Schley Place. One vehicle was found with a methamphetamine lab and the driver and passenger were arrested. The checkpoint was in conjunction with the statewide Operation Pull Over blitz which began on March 2 and concludes on March 18.

During the checkpoint, Trooper David Petrowski encountered a green 1995 GMC SUV with a defective rear license plate light. As the driver exited the vehicle, a plastic bag allegedly containing items commonly used in the use and manufacture of methamphetamine was protruding from the man’s pocket. Further investigation allegedly found a “ready to cook” meth lab in the rear of the SUV. There was no finished meth product found at that time.

ARRESTED: 

• Jeremy D. Gibson, age 39, of Terre Haute, IN….the driver
• Bruce E. Thomas, age 36, of Terre Haute, IN…..the passenger

Gibson and Thomas were incarcerated in the Vigo County Jail with bond set a $85,000, 10% acceptable. Each man was preliminarily charged with the following: Manufacturing Methamphetamine, B felony; Possession of Ephedrine, D felony; Possession of Precursors, D felony; Possession of Anhydrous Ammonia, D felony; Dumping Controlled Waste, D felony; Illegal Storage of Ammonia, A misdemeanor.

In addition to the meth lab arrests, troopers at the checkpoint arrested one person for DUI and issued ten citations, and sixteen warnings. Four drivers were cited for Driving While Suspended and six portable breath tests were administered. A total of 233 vehicles passed through the checkpoint with nine troopers assigned.

After the checkpoint, Putnamville District Troopers conducted a saturation DUI patrol and arrested three persons for DUI, three for miscellaneous criminal violations, issued nine citations, and twelve warnings.

The checkpoint and saturation patrol supervisor was ISP Sergeant Tom Hannon.  Others assigned were Lt. Dan Jones and Troopers Todd Brown, Don Curtis, Shilo Raulston, David Petrowski, Brent Robinson, Brian Thomas, and Michael Organ.

Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.