Nicole Kelley, 43, of Cedar Lake, has been charged after prosecutors allege cocaine was found in her vehicle and additional cocaine was discovered during the booking process at the Lake County Jail following a traffic stop in St. John.

According to court documents, Kelley was stopped on June 29 after an officer observed her Nissan Sentra following another vehicle too closely near the 10600 block of Calumet Avenue in St. John. During the traffic stop, a police K-9 conducted a free-air sniff and alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.

Court records allege a search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a plastic baggie containing residue that field-tested positive for cocaine, along with suspected cocaine on the vehicle’s floorboard.

According to the affidavit, Kelley denied possessing cocaine and stated the baggie was old. Before being transported to the Lake County Jail, she was advised there could be enhanced charges if she brought drugs into the jail and denied having any controlled substances on her person.

Court documents state a scan during the booking process at the Lake County Jail detected a foreign object concealed in Kelley’s genital area. Investigators allege the object contained a baggie with a white powdery substance that field-tested positive for cocaine, along with a cut plastic straw containing cocaine residue that was consistent with drug ingestion.

Lodged in the Lake County Jail.

Charges filed June 30, 2026:

Possession of Cocaine in a Penal Facility — Level 5 Felony

Possession of Cocaine — Level 6 Felony

Possession of Paraphernalia — Class C Misdemeanor