LAWRENCE COUNTY — A routine traffic stop turned into a major narcotics bust Wednesday evening after Lawrence County sheriff’s deputies uncovered more than a pound of methamphetamine inside a vehicle, resulting in the arrest of a local woman and a California man.
The suspects have been identified as Crystal Travis, 47, of Bedford, Indiana, and Thomas Mitchell, 60, of California. Both are currently incarcerated at the Lawrence County Jail, facing multiple felony charges.
The incident began on Wednesday, June 10, at approximately 6:15 p.m., when Deputy Gus Hogan conducted a traffic stop along State Road 450, just west of Bedford. Travis was identified as the driver, while Mitchell was riding as the passenger.
According to the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Hogan detected clear indicators of criminal activity during the initial course of the stop. Recognizing the signs, Deputy Kenton Carter arrived on the scene to assist, deploying his K9 partner, Boon. Boon subsequently gave a positive alert for the presence of illegal narcotics inside the vehicle.
A detailed probable cause search of Travis’s vehicle quickly vindicated the K9’s alert. Deputies discovered and seized:
- Just over one pound of methamphetamine
- Hypodermic syringes
- Drug paraphernalia
Following the completion of the roadside investigation, both Travis and Mitchell were taken into custody and booked into the local jail. They face preliminary felony charges of dealing meth, possession of meth over 28 grams, illegal possession of a syringe, and a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Lawrence County Sheriff Greg Day highly praised the proactive efforts of Deputies Hogan and Carter, emphasizing that a seizure of this magnitude prevents a significant amount of dangerous narcotics from hitting local streets.
“Thanks to the excellent police work by Deputy Hogan and Carter, more than a pound of methamphetamine will not reach the hands of our community members who are struggling with addiction,” Sheriff Day said in a statement. “Seizures of this size do not happen without dedication and hard work. They continue to make a difference!”
The Sheriff’s Office reiterated that these arrests demonstrate their continued commitment to holding drug dealers accountable for spreading illicit substances across the community.
Anyone with information regarding illegal drug activity is encouraged to submit a tip through the Lawrence County Sheriff’s App. All tips can remain completely anonymous.
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.
