LaGrange County-A traffic stop took a turn after drugs and a gun were
discovered during a traffic stop on the Indiana Toll Road during the early
hours on March 15, 2018.
Around 12:40 a.m., Trooper Matthew Drudge was patrolling westbound on the Indiana Toll Road
when he saw a black Jeep Liberty commit several moving violations as it
travelled in front of him. Drudge
stopped the Jeep near the 117 mile marker.
This is approximately four miles west of the Howe/LaGrange exit.
While Drudge spoke to the female driver, he purportedly could smell
marijuana. The female driver handed
Drudge a driver’s license that did not appear to match the driver. The driver insisted that the license was her when questioned by Drudge. After asking for assistance, LaGrange County
Deputy Derek Baldridge came to assist Drudge.
While conducting a search of the Jeep, Drudge found a driver’s license that
positively identified the driver as Madesta Crary, age 39 of Orlando,
Florida, different from the license handed to Drudge. A loaded handgun was found on
the back passenger side floor board of the Jeep. Also located during the search were several plastic
bags that contained suspected marijuana with an approximate weight of 54 grams,
and a pill identified as being a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.
Crary was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of a Handgun Without
a License, Class A-Misdemeanor, False Informing, Class A-Misdemeanor,
Possession of a Controlled Substance, Class A-Misdemeanor, Possession of Marijuana,
Class B-Misdemeanor, and Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C-Misdemeanor. Crary was then
taken to the LaGrange County Jail.
*All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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