Staff Writer
The Tribune-Star
BRAZIL —
A traffic stop on U.S. 40 near Murphy Avenue in Brazil on Tuesday night resulted in the arrest of two Staunton residents on several drug charges and suspicion of other offenses.
Indiana State Police Master Trooper Todd Brown stopped a car that he believed was being driven erratically and whose driver had failed to dim headlights.
During the traffic stop, the driver, Tony T. Lalen, 51, Staunton, was first found to not have a valid Indiana driver’s license and to be listed as a habitual traffic violator, according to an ISP news release.
Police said a female passenger, identified as Tracey G. Kline, 48, Staunton, was seen kicking an object under the front passenger seat as she exited the vehicle. Officers said those items are commonly used in the manufacture and storage of illegal drug substances.
Police also located nearly 12.4 grams of what they suspected to be methamphetamine, four grams of what they believe was marijuana, a switchblade knife and numerous items of suspected drug-related paraphernalia.
Lalen and Kline were taken to the Clay County Jail.
Lalen was preliminarily charged with possession of methamphetamine, a class-D felony; habitual traffic violator, a class-D felony; maintaining a common nuisance, a class-D felony; possession of marijuana, a class-A misdemeanor; reckless possession of paraphernalia, a class-B misdemeanor; and open alcoholic beverage container, an infraction.
Kline was preliminarily charged with possession of methamphetamine, a class-D felony; possession of marijuana, a class-A misdemeanor; visiting a common nuisance, a class-B misdemeanor; reckless possession of paraphernalia, a class-B misdemeanor; and possession of a switchblade knife, a class-B misdemeanor.
