BEDFORD — A Bedford man faces a controlled substance charge after police say they found suspected psilocybin mushrooms in his pocket while arresting him on an outstanding warrant.
Michael H. Parsley, 43, was taken into custody Oct. 12 after Bedford Police Officer Joshua Turner encountered him at a gas station at 2729 Mitchell Road, according to a Bedford Police Department probable cause affidavit.
Turner said he was patrolling near 25th Street and Mitchell Road at approximately 7:05 p.m. when he saw Parsley entering Hoosier Pete’s Citgo. Turner checked Parsley’s information and discovered an active warrant out of Lawrence County.
Turner returned to the gas station and contacted Parsley near one of the gas pumps. After dispatch confirmed the warrant was active, Turner detained Parsley and conducted a search incident to arrest.
According to the affidavit, Turner asked Parsley whether he had anything in his pockets that officers should know about. Parsley reportedly stated he had mushrooms in his pockets.
Officers recovered two plastic bags containing dried mushrooms from Parsley’s front right pocket, the affidavit states.
Turner also obtained consent to search Parsley’s vehicle. The driver was asked to exit the vehicle and said her purse was the only item belonging to her inside. She declined to give officers permission to search her belongings. Police reported finding no additional evidence during the vehicle search.
After being advised of his Miranda rights, Parsley agreed to speak with officers and confirmed the mushrooms belonged to him, according to the affidavit.
The mushrooms were transported to the Bedford Police Department, where they underwent a field test that produced a presumptive positive result for psilocybin. The suspected substance was packaged and secured as evidence pending further testing at the Indiana State Laboratory.
Parsley was transported to the Lawrence County Jail, where he was placed in custody.
The charge is an allegation, and Parsley is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
