Full Notification

Peru – Recent narcotic investigations by members of the CLEAN Team resulted in the arrests of Jeffery Azbell, 49,  James Hann Jr., 45, both of Peru, IN and Richard Smith, 44, Culver, IN. Hann Jr.  was incarcerated in the Miami County Jail to face criminal charges for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug precursors, and two counts for manufacturing methamphetamine. Azbell was also incarcerated in the Miami County Jail. He faces criminal charges for manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of chemical precursors, maintaining a common nuisance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Azbell was also served two Miami County arrest warrants alleging one count each for dealing methamphetamine. Smith was incarcerated in the Pulaski County Jail to face a criminal charge for possession of drug precursors with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. He was also wanted on three arrest warrants from Fulton County. The warrants alleged a single count each for dealing methamphetamine.

Last night, officers from the CLEAN Team executed a Miami Superior Court I search warrant, on a home where Hann Jr. resided, at 364 Jefferson Avenue, Peru, IN.  During their search, officers allegedly found an active methamphetamine lab, chemical drug precursors, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia. Hann Jr. was taken into custody.

Recently, officers initiated a traffic stop on a Ford pickup truck which Richard Smith was driving on U.S. 35 near Pulaski County 500 North. Officers from the CLEAN Team were actively looking for Smith. He was wanted on three arrest warrants, from Fulton County, alleging a single count each for dealing methamphetamine.  During the traffic stop, officers purportedly found chemical precursors commonly associated with the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Smith was incarcerated in the Pulaski County Jail.

Azbell was arrested when officers executed a Miami County search warrant on his residence at 3257 West Miami County Road 500 South. During their search, officers allegedly found a loaded rifle with a 30 round magazine, chemical drug precursors, a syringe, digital scales, and other items of drug paraphernalia. Officers were armed with two Miami County arrest warrants for Azbell. The warrants alleged one count each for dealing methamphetamine.

The CLEAN Team is a task force of 11 law enforcement entities that have dedicated resources to fight narcotics in Fulton and Miami Counties. CLEAN stands for Combined Law Enforcement Against Narcotics.  The main focus of the CLEAN Team is narcotics enforcement with an emphasis on methamphetamine related crimes. 

Law enforcement officers encourage anyone with information about the possession, distribution, or manufacturing of narcotics to call their local law enforcement agency or the Indiana State Police Drug Tip Line at 1-800-453-4756. Information can be reported anonymously.

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.