Illegal Dumping Investigation Leads To Drug Charges in Gary
Gary- Joshua Emmanuel Watkins and Theresa Luberta Williams, have been charged after an investigation that began as a report of illegal dumping and led to the discovery of multiple controlled substances.
The investigation began on November 4, 2025, after police were dispatched to a 911 call reporting a white Dodge Ram pickup truck dumping trash near 25th Avenue and Maryland Street in Gary. Upon arrival, officers located a large pile of garbage in the roadway and found a matching Dodge Ram nearby. Inside the vehicle, remnants of garbage were visible that appeared similar to what had been dumped in the street.
The driver was identified by his Indiana driver’s license as Joshua E. Watkins, and the passenger identified herself as Theresa L. Williams. Officers detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. A K9 free-air sniff was conducted and gave a positive alert for narcotics.
Inside the truck, officers located a green leafy substance on the driver’s seat and a baggie of white powder in the center console that field-tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl. Another baggie containing the same substances was found on the passenger side where Williams had been seated.
A further search of Watkins allegedly revealed a large bag containing 45 individually packaged bag corners weighing 32.5 grams and field-testing positive for fentanyl and cocaine, an 8-gram bag of multicolored tablets testing positive for methamphetamine, and a 2-gram bag of marijuana, along with $1,469 in U.S. currency. Court filings state the amount of fentanyl and cocaine qualifies as per se possession with intent to deliver under Indiana law.
The baggie located closer to Theresa Williams contained approximately 0.5 grams of a substance that field-tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl, according to the affidavit.
Charges filed November 5, 2025:
Joshua Emmanuel Watkins
• Dealing in Cocaine — Level 2 Felony
• Dealing in a Narcotic Drug — Level 2 Felony
• Dealing in Methamphetamine — Level 3 Felony
• Possession of Marijuana — Class B Misdemeanor
Theresa Luberta Williams
• Possession of a Narcotic Drug — Level 6 Felony
• Possession of Cocaine — Level 6 Felony
