Full Notification

December 14, 2017

DETECT Drug Task Force Serves Warrants in Operation: Breaking Traditions

On Thursday, December 14, 2017, a pre-dawn briefing was held at the Bluffton Police Department as law enforcement officers from the Wells County Sheriff’s Office and the Bluffton Police Department were given their assignments. Warrants for 14 individuals were issued through Wells County Courts with the assistance and guidance from the Wells County Prosecutor’s Office. Officers fanned out to serve the warrants shortly after 6:00 am.

This operation was the result of a five-month investigation conducted by the DETECT Drug Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional effort consisting of officers from the Bluffton Police Department, the Wells County Sheriff’s Department, the Decatur Police Department, the Adams County Sheriff’s Department and the Berne Police Department. The investigations were led by Detective Andrew Ellis of the Bluffton Police Department. The covert operation resulted in purchases of Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Heroin, Narcotic Drugs and Prescription Medications. The charges range from a Class A Misdemeanor to a Level 3 Felony, which prior to 2014 would have ranged from a class D Felony to a class B Felony.

Operation Breaking Traditions is named due to several of the arrestees being subjects who are related to one another either as family or are simply related by their prescriber. Operation Breaking Traditions is geared at ending the ongoing traditions that are practiced in the drug trade, of passing the network down from one generation to the next. All of the agencies involved with the DETECT Drug Task force are committed to continual enforcement of drug laws to protect our communities and curb crime which stems from drug related issues.

All of the charges are merely accusations and the persons arrested are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Those arrested include:
Michael Pearson, 22 years old, Bluffton SERVED
I. Dealing Cocaine, Level 3 Felony
II. Dealing Cocaine, Level 4 Felony

Jacob Bowman, 24 years old, Bluffton SERVED
I. Dealing a Narcotic Drug, Level 4 Felony
II. Dealing Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Level 4 Felony
III. Dealing Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Level 3 Felony

Ronald Evans, 56 years old, Bluffton SERVED
I. Dealing Narcotic Drug, Level 4 Felony
II. Dealing Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Level 6 Felony
III. Dealing Narcotic Drug, Level 5 Felony

Stephanie Jarrett, 23 years old, Bluffton SERVED
I. Dealing Methamphetamine, Level 4 Felony
II. Theft, Class A Misdemeanor

Bernard Eguia, 47 years old, Bluffton SERVED
I. Dealing Methamphetamine, Level 5 Felony
II. Dealing Methamphetamine, Level 5 Felony
III. Dealing Methamphetamine, Level 5 Felony

Margaret LaPeer, 58 years old, Bluffton SERVED
I. Dealing Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Class A Misdemeanor
II. Dealing Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Level 5 Felony
III. Dealing Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Level 5 Felony

James Shinpaugh, 45 years old, Bluffton SERVED
I. Dealing Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Level 6 Felony
II. Legend Drug Deception, Level 6 Felony

David Donahoe, 25 years old, Bluffton INDIANA DOC
I. Dealing Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Level 6 Felony
II. Theft, Class A Misdemeanor

Arrested later in the day:

David Eckelbarger II, 47 years old, Bluffton
I. Dealing Narcotic Drug, Level 4 Felony
II. Dealing Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Class A Misdemeanor

Morgan Zanzinger, 37 years old, Bluffton
I. Dealing Narcotic Drug, Level 4 Felony
II. Dealing Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Class A Misdemeanor

Tiffany Sadnick, 23 years old, Bluffton
I. Dealing Narcotic Drug, a Level 4 Felony
II. Dealing Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Level 4 Felony
III. Dealing Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Level 3 Felony

Police are still seeking the following individuals with outstanding arrest warrants:

Robert Donahoe Jr., 47 years old, Bluffton
I. Dealing Narcotic Drug, Level 5 Felony
II. Dealing Narcotic Drug, Level 5 Felony

Kristin Donahoe, 37 years old, Bluffton
I. Maintaining Common Nuisance, Level 6 Felony

Robert Donahoe III, 26 years old, Montpelier
I. Dealing Schedule III Controlled Substance, Level 6 Felony
II. Dealing Schedule III Controlled Substance, Level 5 Felony

The public is asked to call the Bluffton Police Department at 260.824.3320 if you have any information on the above listed individuals.

Again, the criminal charges are merely accusations and all persons arrested are presumed innocent until and unless they are proven guilty in a court of law.

Kyle Randall
Deputy Chief of Police
[email protected]
260.824.3320