(SHOALS) – On Monday October 26th, Martin County Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Gibson met Shoals Town Marshal Todd Eckert at Rox Storage in Shoals while they both were on patrol.
When they exited their vehicles, they immediately smelled the odor of raw marijuana in the area. The officers attempted to pinpoint where the odor was coming from and determined it was coming from the storage units on the northwest side.
Deputy Gibson deployed his narcotics-certified K-9 Spike for a free air sniff of the exterior of the storage units.
Spike gave a positive indication that there were possible drugs in one of the storage units.
Marshal Eckert then deployed his narcotics-certified K-9 Adele for a free air sniff of the exterior of that set of storage units. Adele also alerted officers to possible drugs in the unit.
Marshal Eckert and Deputy Gibson then approached the unit and both smelled the odor of raw marijuana emanating from the crease of the door.
Martin County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Tyler Reed arrived on scene to assist. He too smelled the odor of raw marijuana and deployed his narcotics-certified K-9 Virka for a free air sniff. Virka also gave a positive indication possible drugs in the storage unit.
Marshal Eckert called the owner of Rox Storage, who gave officers the name of Danny Krodel, who was renting the unit.
Deputy Gibson and Marshal Eckert say they have seen Krodel at the storage unit multiple times in the last several weeks.
Officers stayed at the storage unit until they secured a warrant to search it. Martin County Circuit Court Judge Lynne E. Ellis granted a warrant. Deputy Gibson, Sgt. Tyler Reed, Marshal Eckert, and Loogootee Police Officer Aaron Means then executed that search warrant.
In the storage unit officers recovered approximately two pounds of marijuana, approximately 1 gram of heroin, meth, and drug paraphernalia.
Later in the morning hours of Monday, October 26th, Deputy Larry Gibson applied for and Judge Ellis granted a search warrant for Krodel’s residence. Deputy Larry Gibson, Major Keith Keller, Indiana State Police Trooper Andrew Beaver, and Loogootee Police Officer Jason Hennette then executed that search warrant.
During a search of the home officers seized 6.4 grams of meth, marijuana, controlled substances, and $2,268 in cash.
Police arrested 55-year-old Carolyn S. Smith, who lived at the home, on charges of dealing meth, possession of meth, maintaining a common nuisance, possession of controlled substance, and possession of marijuana.
On Thursday, November 12th, while patrolling US Highway 50, Deputy Rob Lents observed a black SUV being driven by Danny Lee Krodel.
Deputy Lents initiated a traffic stop because Krodel was wanted on two active Martin County warrants.
Sheriff Travis Roush and Loogootee Police Sergeant Jim Floyd arrived on the scene to assist. Krodel was then taken into custody without incident.
Deputy Lents applied for and Judge Ellis granted a search warrant for the vehicle.
Deputy Lents and ISP Trooper Andrew Beaver searched the vehicle and found meth, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.
Officers arrested 34-year-old Danny Lee Krodel on charges of dealing meth dealing marijuana, possession of meth, possession of a narcotic drug, maintaining a common nuisance, two counts of possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
