Orleans man arrested on meth charges

BEDFORD – An Orleans man was arrested Sunday night on charges of dealing and possession of meth, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, and obstruction of justice.

According to a probable cause affidavit, a Bedford Police officer was on routine patrol when he stopped the driver of a red Pontiac Grand Am who failed to maintain its lane of travel westbound on 5th Street.

 The officer attempted to stop the vehicle at the intersection of 5th Street and Bell Back Road. The officer said it appeared the driver was going to pull over but then continued westbound.

As the  vehicle approached State Road 37 the driver made a sudden and abrupt right hand turn crossing over the right hand fog line again. 

The driver then stopped on State Road 37, north of 5th Street.

William Wadsack

The driver was identified as 42-year-old William Wadsack.

The officer asked Wadsack why he didn’t stop and he told police it was because he was looking for  a good place to stop.

He then told the officer he didn’t have a driver’s license.

Wadsack told the officer he did not, “that I know of”, have anything illegal in the vehicle and gave officers permission to search it. 

In the center console officers located a plastic cylinder that contained crystal meth and a glass smoking device.

Officers then noticed the passenger window was rolled down so went back and searched the area Wadsack had traveled.

Using a thermal camera, about 10 to 15 yards from the vehicle officers found an Altoids metal tin that was displaying a higher heat signature than the surrounding area, indicating that the tin had only been there for a short time. The tin was found within a few feet of the intersection and where Wadsack had made the abrupt turn onto State Road. 

Inside the tin, police found two plastic baggies containing a total weight of 6 grams of crystal meth. 

Officers also found a digital scale and a glass cartridge with wax-like THC and an orange and a black rubber smoking device containing burnt marijuana in the backseat of the vehicle.

Police also found Facebook messages between Wadsack and a woman telling her to delete all their messages. 

If you know something, say something. Send an email to drugactivity@lawrencecounty.in.gov or call Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office tip line at 812-545-4700. All calls are confidential.