Defective Passenger Car Taillights and Marijuana Result in One Arrest
Vigo County—On Friday night December 30th at 10:30, Indiana State Police Trooper Ian Portteus stopped a blue Chevrolet Impala near 22nd and Liberty streets in Terre Haute for no illuminated taillights on vehicle. As Trooper Portteus began conversations with the two occupants, he noticed possible criminal indicators and a strong odor of Marijuana coming from the vehicle’s interior. Trooper Nicole Cheeks and officers from the Terre Haute Police arrived to assist and a subsequent search of the vehicle yielded trace amounts of Marijuana throughout the interior, open containers of alcohol, scales with alleged Marijuana residue, and a loaded .380 caliber handgun. The driver was found to not have an Indiana gun permit to carry such a weapon.
The driver was taken into custody and identified as 22-year-old Devonce O. Whitesides of Terre Haute, IN. Whitesides was transported to the Vigo County Jail and during his in-processing, approximately 30 grams of Marijuana was found inside his under-clothing. Whitesides was preliminarily charged with Possession of a Handgun without a Permit; Possession of Marijuana; Possession of Paraphernalia, Open Container Violation, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. A 17-year-old juvenile male passenger was not charged and released from the scene.
Attached picture is the items seized at time of arrest.
The incident was investigated by ISP Trooper Ian Portteus. Assisting were ISP Trooper Nicole Cheeks and officers from the Terre Haute Police Department.
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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SGT. JOE WATTS
