Daviess County: Proactive policing lead a State Trooper to check on a suspicious vehicle and, in turn, take drugs off the streets and put two men behind bars.
At 12:31 A.M. this morning, Trooper Mitchell Wier was patrolling County Road 100 West near County Road 225 North when he observed a red Chevrolet Impala. After turning around to watch the driving behavior of the vehicle, Wier found the vehicle on County Road 100 West, stopped along the side of the road with the headlights turned off as if it was a disabled vehicle. Wier stopped to see if he could be of assistance and spoke with 46 year old Ronald Ketchem of Washington and 35 year old Matthew Rodriguez of Linton, who were both standing outside of the Chevrolet. Both men informed Wier that a female had been driving the car, and she had pulled over and ran from the scene.
Wier requested assistance from the Washington Police Department, Daviess County Sheriff’s Department, and ISP. Officers began searching the area for the female, and found a bag of methamphetamine in a ditch, eight feet from the Chevrolet. Daviess County K9 Sergeant Greg Dietsch arrived with his partner “Draggo” and performed an open-air search of the Chevrolet. Draggo gave a positive indication for the presence of narcotics in the vehicle, and a subsequent search led to the seizure of marijuana and numerous legend and Schedule IV controlled substances, as well as drug paraphernalia.
During the investigation, officers learned that Ketchem and Rodriguez had made up the story of the female running from the scene, that they were the only two people with the vehicle. Both Ketchem and Rodriguez were arrested, without incident, and transported to the Daviess County Security Center.
Arrested and Charges:
Ronald G. Ketchem, 49
Washington, IN
- Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony
- Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 Felony
- Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Class A Misdemeanor
- Possession of a Legend Drug, Class A Misdemeanor
- Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor
- False Informing, Class A Misdemeanor
Matthew D. Rodriguez, 35
Linton, IN
- Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony
- Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 Felony
- Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Class A Misdemeanor
- Possession of a Legend Drug, Class A Misdemeanor
- Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor
- False Informing, Class A Misdemeanor
- Possession of Paraphernalia, Class A Misdemeanor
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HENSLEY
* Attached photographs are of the scene, the controlled substances seized, and mug photos of Ketchem and Rodriguez.
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
