MITCHELL— A routine traffic stop for a missing registration plate resulted in felony drug charges for a Mitchell man Friday afternoon after a Lawrence County Sheriff’s K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics.
Gregory S. King, 41, was taken into custody on State Road 37 near Wesley Chapel Road. He faces multiple preliminary charges, including possession of meth, possession of a Schedule I and II drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Deputy C. Pruett was patrolling northbound on State Road 37 at approximately 5:57 p.m. when he observed a black 2004 Nissan Sentra traveling southbound without a visible rear registration plate.
Deputy Pruett initiated a traffic stop, and the vehicle pulled into a driveway on Wesley Chapel Road. The driver, identified as King, claimed he had just purchased the vehicle and planned to register it the following day.
During the interaction, Deputy Pruett noted that King appeared “frantic” and that his hands were trembling. When questioned about illegal substances, King reportedly paused and looked toward a bag in the passenger seat when marijuana was mentioned. Though King denied having drugs in the car, he admitted to using marijuana for medical recovery.
Due to King’s nervous behavior and conflicting statements, Deputy Pruett requested assistance from K-9 Deputy K. Carter. A “free air sniff” performed by the K-9 resulted in a positive alert on the passenger side door of the Nissan.
A subsequent search of King’s person and the vehicle uncovered a variety of illegal items.
A clear plastic bag containing an “off-white root-like substance” was found in King’s front pocket, which field-tested positive for psilocybin (hallucinogenic mushrooms). King claimed it was a mushroom from his garden.
Inside a “Grizzly” metal tin located in a compartment near the steering wheel, officers found a plastic capsule and a folded paper containing a white crystal substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
Police also recovered a glass smoking pipe, a cut green straw with residue, and a folded one-dollar bill also containing crystal residue.
Although King denied ownership of the items found in the steering wheel compartment, he was arrested and transported to the Lawrence County Jail.
In addition to the felony drug charges, King was issued a citation for driving while his driver’s license was suspended after dispatch confirmed his driving privileges were not valid in Indiana. The vehicle was left at the scene with the property owner’s permission after the two individuals who arrived to pick up the car were also found to have suspended licenses.
King was booked into the Lawrence County Jail without further incident. Evidence, including photos of the seized items and laboratory request forms, has been attached to the case file.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the probable cause affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
