Ohio Woman & New York Man Arrested On Drug Charges
On January 21, 2020, during the late morning, Deputy Wade Wallace was working the Domestic Highway Enforcement (DHE) program along the Indiana Toll Road (I-80/90). Deputy Wallace was monitoring eastbound traffic at the 52-mile marker. He observed a passenger vehicle traveling eastbound that gained his attention. As the vehicle passed, he observed the vehicle committing a traffic infraction. He began to travel east behind the vehicle and observed another traffic infraction being committed by the same vehicle near the 54.5-mile marker.
Deputy Wallace initiated a traffic stop on the vehicleinside the Knute Rockne Service Area. The driver was identified as Amanda J. SALMONS (34 YOA) of Cortland, Ohio. As the traffic stop progressed, a large quantity of an illegal drug was located.
SALMONS was arrested for Dealing in Marijuana (Level 5 Felony). SALMONS remains housed in the La Porte County Jail (LCJ). She is being held on a $15,005.00 cash-only bond through La Porte County Superior Court I.
Deputy Jon Samuelson, his K-9 partner Bosco and Deputy Justin Phillips assisted at the scene of the traffic stop.
Less than two hours later, Deputy Samuelson, also working DHE, was traveling westbound on the Indiana Toll Road near the 58-mile marker. He was traveling behind a pickup truck that gained his attention. Deputy Samuelson observed the pickup truck commit two traffic infractions.
A short time later, he initiated a traffic stop. The driver was identified as Tshaka M. BROWN (34 YOA) of Webster, New York. As the traffic stop progressed, an illegal drug and a firearm was located.
BROWN was arrested for Possession of a Handgun without a License (A-Misdemeanor) and Possession of Marijuana (B-Misdemeanor). BROWN remains housed in the LCJ. He is being held on a $1,505.00cash-only bond through Superior Court III.
Deputy Phillips also assisted at the scene of this traffic stop as well.
DHE is a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program/initiative. DHE is designed to disrupt the flow of drugs and weapons moving domestically. DHE, funded by federal monies and administered by Indiana HIDTA, allows additional deputies to work criminal interdiction enforcement.
Arrests and criminal charges are mere accusations. Every person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
