HELTONVILLE — A tip about a wanted person and a suspected stolen camper led to the arrest of a Heltonville man and a Bloomington woman on drug and felony theft charges in Lawrence County.
Charles L. Strevels, 45, of Heltonville, was booked into the Lawrence County Jail following a joint investigation by the Indiana State Police and the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department. He faces charges including possession of methamphetamine, theft, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The female suspect, Sara Deckard, 34, of Bloomington, was arrested on an active warrant out of Monroe County and charged with theft, possession of meth, and drug paraphernalia.
According to the affidavit filed by ISP Trooper Chance Humphrey, law enforcement arrived at a residence in the 200 block of Knob Creek Road on October 1 to investigate a tip that Deckard, who had an active warrant, was residing there in a potentially stolen camper.
Trooper Humphrey checked the VIN on the camper and confirmed through dispatch that the vehicle was, in fact, stolen out of Lawrence County.
While speaking with other people in the yard, officers learned that Strevels and Deckard lived in the camper and that Deckard had allegedly been “bragging” that the two had stolen it.
As officers tried to verify the camper was unoccupied, they observed a glass smoking device containing meth residue sitting on a table next to a window.
After securing the camper and removing a small dog found inside, police confiscated the smoking device.
Shortly after leaving the residence, officers spotted a white Dodge truck matching the description of a vehicle used by the suspects. Strevels, who was driving, turned into a nearby driveway. Knowing he had a suspended license, officers initiated a traffic stop.
Strevels was identified as the driver, and Sara Deckard was the passenger. Deckard was arrested on her active Monroe County warrant, and both were taken into custody.
During separate interviews, Deckard admitted to living in the stolen camper but claimed it was already on the property when she moved in. Strevels also admitted to living in the camper but claimed he had acquired it by trading a motorcycle to a man in Monroe County. Strevels admitted the glass smoking device found in the camper was his.
Trooper Humphrey then obtained and executed a search warrant for the camper, where officers located several plastic bags containing crystal meth.
Strevels was booked into the Lawrence County Jail, facing felony theft and drug possession charges.
