A Columbia City man facing seven drug charges after a traffic stop has been picked up on the warrant issued for his arrest in March.
Edward Earl Smith Jr., 43, Columbia City, was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail at 1:37 a.m. Tuesday and faces charges for dealing in a narcotic drug, a Level 5 felony; possession of a narcotic drug, a Level 6 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony; possession or use of a legend drug, a Level 6 felony; driving while suspended, a Class A misdemeanor; possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor; and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed March 3 in Kosciusko Circuit Court, on Feb. 7 an officer with the Indiana State Police was patrolling in North Webster and noticed a vehicle with expired plates fail to signal to change lanes.
When the officer conducted a traffic stop, Smith was driving and a female passenger and a child were also in the vehicle, according to court papers. The officer reported that Smith and the woman were acting “nervous”?and trying to “rush the traffic stop,” so police requested a K9 to the scene.
A positive sniff from the dog that illegal drugs were present in the vehicle resulted in a search of the car and police finding a black bag containing 32 purple pills and one blue pill. The pills were identified as Kadian, which contains morphine and requires a prescription to possess, the affidavit states. Police also found a plastic bag containing marijuana and a plastic bag with methamphetamine and another prescription pill. In the center console of the vehicle, police found more methamphetamine, prescription pills and a cut straw commonly used to ingest illegal drugs, along with several plastic bags commonly used to package drugs for sale or distribution.
According to the affidavit, Smith told police everything was his and that he did not have a prescription for any of it. Smith also allegedly told police that he owed someone $200 for the morphine pills just found in his possession but wouldn’t tell police how he was going to pay the $200. Smith did tell police though that he knows he can get $20 per pill.
Smith was also wanted by police for a separate domestic battery charge against him. In that case, according to the probable cause affidavit filed March 27 in Kosciusko Superior Court III, on March 13 a Kosciusko County Sheriff deputy was dispatched to a report of domestic battery.
Upon arrival, police spoke with a woman who said Smith had grabbed her by the hair, pulled her off the bed and then dragged her down to the floor. A child was present at the time of this incident as well.
Smith is facing a Level 6 felony domestic battery with a child under 16 present charge and a Class A misdemeanor domestic battery charge.
