ORLEANS – A routine traffic stop for an expired registration on Saturday evening escalated into a significant drug seizure, resulting in the arrest of an Orleans man now facing dealing charges.
The incident unfolded on Saturday, June 21, at approximately 6:50 p.m. when Orleans Reserve Officer Paula Guthrie pulled over an older model Pontiac G6 traveling southbound on State Road 37, just north of the town. The vehicle was stopped for displaying an expired Indiana registration.
During her interaction with the driver, identified as David Hutslar, Officer Guthrie’s training and experience led her to suspect criminal activity. Officer Gavin Bissonnette arrived on the scene shortly thereafter to assist.
Based on the driver’s behavior and the officers’ observations, a K-9 unit was requested from the Paoli Police Department. Paoli Police Officer White and K-9 Kilo responded to the scene and conducted a free air sniff around the vehicle. K-9 Kilo alerted to the presence of narcotics, providing probable cause for a search.
The subsequent search of the vehicle yielded approximately 11 grams of methamphetamine and 5 grams of marijuana. Hutslar was immediately taken into custody and transported to the Orange County Jail, where he was held pending bond and arraignment.
The investigation continued on Sunday, June 22, as Town of Orleans Officer Chris Hubbard interviewed Hutslar. Officer Hubbard was able to establish probable cause for an additional charge of dealing in methamphetamine against Hutslar.
Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
