April 4, 2018 at 5:30 p.m.
Narcotics team makes multiple arrests after citizen tip
By Bartholomew County Sheriff's Department-
On July 13, 2017, Units with the Indiana State Police Versailles District All Crimes Policing Unit, Columbus Police Department Cops Unit, and the Bartholomew County Sheriff's Office JNET Team executed a search warrant at a Columbus, Indiana residence which led to the discovery of Heroin, Methamphetamine, Marijuana, and led to multiple drug-related charges.
The investigation began when a concerned citizen contacted the Indiana State Police Versailles Post and provided information in reference to a residence in Columbus, 3113 13th Street, where they suspected drug activity was occurring and they provided information in reference to those involved. Investigating this information provided many leads to pursue and eventually information was obtained to secure a search warrant for the residence and the property.
Prior to executing the search warrant, information was provided that the target suspect within the residence, James Franklin Wood II, also known as "JBoog", was leaving in a vehicle. A felony stop was conducted near Gladstone and McKinley Avenue where James Wood was taken into custody as well as a passenger in the vehicle, Christopher Tays.
Wood was found to be in possession of approximately 13 Grams of Heroin, 3 Grams of Methamphetamine, Syringes, Drug Paraphernalia, and a Loaded Handgun. Christopher Tays was found to be in possession of Heroin. After being transported to the Bartholomew County Jail, BCJ Correction's Officers located additional illegal items concealed on Christopher Tays person including a Syringe, Paraphernalia, and Suspected Heroin.
Units then simultaneously executed the search warrant on the residence at 3113 13th Street. Located throughout the residence were different types of unknown powder substances. Due to the risk and potential of Fentanyl being present and the amount of unknown substances, officers secured the scene until the Indiana State Police Clan Lab equipment could arrive on scene.
Clan Lab techs, wearing hazmat chemical protection, processed the scene. To prevent potential contamination of officers, Trunarc, newly purchased equipment by BCSO was utilized to test the substances located in the residence. This new equipment, using laser spectrometry, minimizes physical contact with hazardous materials and allows officers to field test substances without physically touching the substance.
Trunarc was purchased from funding made available through REMC's grant program and the Bartholomew County Substance Abuse Council. Currently, due to funding restraints, law enforcement is limited to tests that can be run; however, we are in the process of trying to obtain additional funding so that unlimited tests can be performed with Trunarc.
Located in a vehicle parked in front of the residence was Timothy Dunham who, prior to JNET's arrival, was observed at the front and rear of his vehicle messing with items in the trunk and under the hood of the vehicle. A search of these areas led to the discovery of Marijuana, Heroin, Syringes, Paraphernalia, and a Controlled Substance.
Located inside the residence were Michelle Clark, Mackcena Kirby, and Whitney Bunting. All three individuals were arrested on several drug-related charges and transported to the Bartholomew County Jail.
"This is a perfect case of concerned citizens giving information that led to a large investigation and multiple arrests which included the recovery of a large amount of drugs," said Sheriff Matt Myers. "Our biggest asset is the public and the information they provide."
"This is also a perfect example of multiple agencies working well together and conducting a complete and thorough case. ISP's ACP unit and JNET have been working closely on multiple cases. Information sharing, between the ACP unit, JNET, and CPD's COPS unit, has been a huge asset in these investigations."
"I appreciate citizens who work with law enforcement to keep Bartholomew County safe," Myers said.
The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff's Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor's Office, is proactively targeting the manufacturing and abuse of dangerous drugs in Columbus and Bartholomew County.
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