On 12/10/2016, officers with the Southport Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a 1998 Ford Explorer for a false and fictitious license plate on Southport Road, just east of Madison. The vehicle was occupied by three individuals. During the course of the patrol officer's investigation, they noticed that the occupants of the vehicle were attempting to conceal something in between and under the seats. Because of the furtive movements of the three subjects, officers obtained consent from the driver to search the vehicle.
Recovered in the search were several firearms, including a TEC-9 sub-machine gun, ammunition, jewelry, a television, a large gun safe, and two pipes used for smoking illegal narcotics. In addition to these items, officers recovered numerous improvised explosive devices, which were in the back seat floor area of the Explorer.
A subsequent search of one of the passengers yielded a small amount of methamphetamine.
The driver, Matthew Miller, and one of the passengers, Rachel Manson, both of Indianapolis, were both placed under arrest for possession of a firearm without a license, possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia, and in Mr. Miller's case, possession of a firearm by a felon and driving while license suspended.
Detectives with the Southport Police Department obtained a search warrant for the Explorer and the gun safe. IMPD Bomb Squad and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives assisted with the execution of the warrant.
Detectives located more improvised explosives and firearms inside the gun safe and vehicle.
Southport Detectives and members of the ATF interviewed the two suspects. The suspects finally admitted that they had just burglarized a home in Greenwood prior to the traffic stop.
Greenwood detectives were notified of the incident and were able to locate the owner of the property taken.
For more information, please visit https://southportpolice.org/index.php/121016/
Anyone with information on this incident or any other crime, please email the Southport Police Department at [email protected]
