FORTVILLE — What started earlier this week as routine interest in a Jeep being driven erratically ended with the arrest of three men who now face serious felony drug charges.
Quintin Alan Kennedy, 19, and Joel David West, 30, both from Muncie, along with Aubrey William Baker, 25, Indianapolis, were taken into custody Monday night, May 24. Their Jeep Liberty had been eastbound in the 400 block of West Broadway Street when it caught the eye of a Fortville Police Department officer. The officer followed the vehicle into the parking lot of the Dairy Queen, 346 W. Broadway St., where the arrests were made.
In all, police found nearly 28 grams of illegal drugs, including 14.1 grams of methamphetamine, 6 grams of crack cocaine, 2.8 grams of cocaine, 3.8 grams of heroin and 1 gram of spice, an affidavit stated.
Kennedy has been charged with a Level 3 felony count of possession of methamphetamine; a Level 4 felony count of possession of a narcotic drug; a Level 5 felony count of possession of a narcotic drug; a Level 6 felony count of possession of a controlled substance and a Class A misdemeanor count of carrying a handgun without a license. The most serious charge against him carries a sentence of up to 16 years in prison.
Baker has been charged with a Level 4 felony count of possession of methamphetamine; a Level 5 felony count of possession of a narcotic drug; a Level 6 felony count of possession of a narcotic drug; a Level 6 felony count of synthetic identity deception; and a Class B misdemeanor of false informing.
West is facing a Level 4 felony count of possession of methamphetamine; a Level 5 felony count of possession of a narcotic drug; a Level 6 felony count of possession of a narcotic drug and a Class A misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance.
The most serious charge against Baker and West carries a sentence of up to 12 years in prison.
According to the affidavit, the Jeep’s driver pulled into the ordering lane at the Dairy Queen despite seeing the police vehicle behind it. The officer watched the back-seat passenger trying to hide something, the reported stated. The officer decided to run the license plate and found it did not belong to the Jeep.
The officer pulled the three men over. West and Kennedy, who was driving, provided identification, but Baker did not and falsely identified himself, the affidavit said. A records check indicated Kennedy had a pending gun charge, while West had pending cases for drug possession. Baker then told police he had a warrant out of Marion County against him, which is why he lied about his identity, the affidavit said.
Officers found a handgun with 17 rounds of ammunition; a digital scale; a backpack full of lighters and baggies; a container with a brown, waxy substance believed to be marijuana wax; and a glass pipe. With the help of a K-9, officers also found quantities of substances believed to be methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin, according to the affidavit.
All three cases were assigned to Hancock County Superior Court 1 with Judge D.J. Davis, who held initial hearings on Thursday, May 27. Davis set a $30,000 cash bond on West; a $20,000 cash bond on Baker; and a $10,000 cash bond on Kennedy. All three men are due back in court in July.
They were still in the Hancock County Jail at the Daily Reporter’s deadline on Thursday.
