Full Notification

Miami County –   Two narcotic investigations by members of the CLEAN Team resulted in seven people being arrested on various drug related charges.

An investigation by the CLEAN Team resulted in the arrests of Aaron Cardwell, 19, Destiny B. Hattabaugh, 20, Thomas Jones, 20, John R. Koontz, 29, and Thosha Koontz, 31, all from 66 North Cass Street in Peru. Officers initiated an investigation after receiving a tip about suspected use and dealing of heroin. The investigation led to the development of probable cause for officers to obtain a Miami Superior Court I search warrant for the residence at 66 North Cass Street, Peru. During their search, officers allegedly found marijuana, prescription medication, heroin, cocaine, a cutting agent, a loaded handgun, and drug paraphernalia.  John and Thosha Koontz have two children, ages seven and ten. The children were attending school at the time of the warrant service. They were eventually placed into the care of the Miami County Division of the Indiana Department of Child Protective Services.

Five individuals were incarcerated in the Miami County Jail.  Cardwell faces charges for possession of paraphernalia and visiting a common nuisance. .Hattabaugh faces charges for possession of cocaine (under 5 grams), possession of paraphernalia, and visiting a common nuisance. Jones faces charges for dealing a narcotic drug (under 5 grams) with a firearm, possession of a narcotic drug (under 5 grams) with a firearm, possession of paraphernalia, and visiting a common nuisance. John Koontz faces charges for maintaining a common nuisance, possession of a hypodermic needle, neglect of a dependent (2 counts), and possession of paraphernalia. Thosha Koontz was incarcerated on charges for maintaining a common nuisance and neglect of a dependent (2 counts).

A second, unrelated, narcotics investigation by members of the CLEAN Team resulted in the arrests of Sean Murray, 30 and his wife, Alicia Murray, 32, from 460 East 2^nd Street, Peru. During the course of the investigation, officers obtained a search warrant for the Murray’s home. During a subsequent search, officers allegedly found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Two of the Murray’s three children were at the home during the warrant service. The children were placed into the care of the Miami County Division of the Indiana Department of Child Protective Services. Sean and Alicia Murray were both incarcerated in the Miami County Jail to face charges for possession of methamphetamine, maintaining a common nuisance, neglect of a dependent (two counts), and possession of paraphernalia.

The CLEAN Team is a task force with 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 task force 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.