Chesterton Man In Custody On Multiple Felony Drug Charges
A Chesterton resident was taken into custody on multiple felony drug charges on Tuesday, June 20, the Chesterton Police Department is reporting.
In the afternoon on Tuesday, the Porter County Multi Enforcement Group (PC-MEG), the Porter County Sheriff’s SWAT, and the Chesterton Police Department executed a search warrant in the 800 block of South Sixth Street, at the residence of Jonathan R. Shaffer.
The search warrant was issued following “an intense operation conducted by PC-MEG into allegations of narcotics trafficking,” the CPD said in a statement released, Thursday, June 22.
During the execution of the search warrant, Shaffer, 29, was taken into custody without incident. “A search of the home led to the recovery of evidence consistent with narcotics trafficking,” the CPD said.
Shaffer was formally charged today in Porter Superior Court with the following related counts:
*Dealing in a narcotic drug in an amount of 10 or more grams, a Level 2 felony.
*Dealing in methamphetamine in an amount of 10 or more grams, a Level 2 felony.
*Possession of a narcotic drug in an amount between 10 and 28 grams, a Level 4 felony
*Possession of hypodermic syringe or needle, a Level 6 felony.
*Possession of Paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.
A Level 2 felony is punishable by a term of 10 to 30 years; a Level 4 felony, by a term of two to 12 years; and a Level 6 felony, by a term of six to 30 months.
CPD Tim Richardson expressed his gratitude to PC-MEG for the resources and energy which it’s brought to bear on drug trafficking in the county. “These men and women are the local unsung heroes in the war on drugs plaguing our nation,” he said. “Many times in the dark of night, these investigators are working tirelessly to keep this poison off of our streets.”
Richardson also praised the excellent working relationships developed among Porter County law enforcement agencies, with each of the larger departments having assigned one or more officers to the countywide PC-MEG. “Under the leadership of Sheriff Jeff Balon and area police chiefs, PC-MEG is given the necessary tools and equipment to operate at such an efficient level,” Richardson noted. “Whether it’s crime scene investigation (CSI) or the special weapons and tactics (SWAT), such was as utilized during this operation, our partnerships in the region are flourishing.”
“Specifically in Chesterton,” Richardson added, “the pieces of the puzzle have all come together to continue the department’s recent efforts in drug eradication. The work product among our patrol officers, our recently implemented K-9 program, and our partnership with PC-MEG is running on all cylinders. Information-sharing among entities is at its finest. As such, the department has made numerous drug-related arrests so far in 2023. I expect more great news on that front in the coming months. The work has just begun.”
