COLUMBUS — An Indianapolis man faces multiple criminal charges after Bartholomew County sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 65 and recovered a stolen handgun from his vehicle.
Deputies were dispatched to I-65 near the Taylorsville Rest Area just before 7:30 p.m. on Monday after a caller reported a gray Dodge Ram pickup truck driving erratically, weaving across lanes, changing speeds repeatedly, and nearly striking a semitrailer.
Law enforcement located the vehicle just south of Exit 64 and observed it weaving within its lane before initiating a traffic stop near the State Road 58 exit.
The driver was identified as 58-year-old Melvin Earls of Indianapolis. According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, Earls informed deputies that his driver’s license was suspended. Upon detecting the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, deputies conducted a search of the pickup.
During the search, officers located a handgun inside a storage compartment. A background check revealed that Earls is a convicted felon, and a records search confirmed that the firearm had been reported stolen out of Indianapolis.
Following the stop, Earls was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for a blood draw to test for suspected intoxication.
Earls was subsequently booked into the Bartholomew County Jail, where he is being held on suspicion of:
- Operating while intoxicated with a prior conviction
- Driving while suspended with a prior conviction
- Unlawful possession of a firearm
- Theft of a firearm
Earls remains in custody on a 48-hour hold while authorities prepare formal charges. The investigation remains active and ongoing.
