Salem woman arrested after police find drugs in a vehicle

BEDFORD – A Salem woman was arrested after an incident on Saturday, January 16, 2021.

According to a probable cause affidavit, a Bedford Police officer was on patrol when they stopped a vehicle with an expired and altered license plate at 28th Street and Mitchell Road.

Ashley Bowman

Police identified  29-year-old Ashley Bowman as a passenger in the vehicle.

Police towed the vehicle due to the altered and expired license plate. During an inventory of the vehicle, police found a partially burned hand-rolled marijuana cigarette in the passenger seat where Bowman was sitting.

Bowman denied knowledge of the cigarette however advised that it might be CBD. At this point, Bowman was detained. On the passenger side of the vehicle, officers also located three pieces of torn plastic which appeared to be “corner baggies” which contained crystal meth residue. They also found a scale containing marijuana.

Bowman said she had no knowledge of the baggies.

Bowman was released from the scene and the information was forwarded to the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office. A warrant was issued for Bowman’s arrest on charges of possession of meth, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. 

She was also arrested on a warrant for failure to appear on a charge of possession of marijuana.

The driver, Mark Phillips, was issued a summons to appear in court on a charge of operating a vehicle with an altered plate and for operating a vehicle with an expired license plate.

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.