THE JENNINGS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE INVOLVED IN SEVERAL ARRESTS FOR DRUGS

Busy couple days for officers

----MOTORCYCLE PURSUIT----

On October 23rd, 2021 at approximately 1230 AM, Reserve Deputy Evan Ponsler attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a blue and white sport motorcycle with no license plate in the area of Casey’s gas station on State Road 7.

When Deputy Ponsler activated his vehicles emergency lights, the driver of the motorcycle accelerated North on SR 7 reaching speeds of up to 100 mph. Due to concerns for the public’s safety and the safety of the motorcycle operator and passenger, the pursuit was terminated in the area of the main gate of Country Squire Lakes.

A short time later Jennings County Dispatch received a report of a motorcycle accident at the intersection of Country Manor and Country Squire Blvd. The caller told Dispatch that the two males riding the motorcycle requested that the police not be called.

When deputies arrived at the accident scene, the motorcycle was gone and a male identified as Zachary Hamblen was found lying on the ground. Hamblen told deputies that he had a bicycle wreck and his mother came and picked up the bike.

Witnesses said that after the accident the passenger began pushing the motorcycle away from the scene. Deputies located the motorcycle approximately 100 yards from the accident scene in a grassy area.

Deputies began searching the area and found Kaleb C. Root hiding behind a tree. A jacket located at the scene contained approximately 3.5 grams of suspected heroin/fentanyl.

Hamblen was transported from the scene by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained as a result of the accident.

Kaleb Root (21 of North Vernon) was arrested at the scene and transported to the Jennings County Jail where he was booked in under the following preliminary charges:

Obstruction of justice- Level 6 felony

Assisting a criminal- Level 6 felony

Zachary T. Hamblen (22 of Vallonia) faces preliminary charges of the following.

Resisting law enforcement by fleeing in a vehicle- Level 6 felony

Possession of a narcotic drug- Level 6 felony

Assisting: Deputy Garrett Hoppock, Deputy Morgan Gabbard, Reserve Deputy Michael Watts, Jennings County EMS, Geneva Township Fire Department and Jennings County Central Dispatch

----SEARCH WARRANT----

On October 22nd 2021 a Search Warrant was served by the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office for the residence of Jill Sanders in North Vernon, Indiana. During the search Methamphetamine, Marijuana and paraphernalia were located at the residence.

Jill S. Sanders (41 of North Vernon) was arrested on the preliminary charges of:

Possession of Methamphetamine- Level 6 felony

Possession of Marijuana- Class B misdemeanor

Possession of Paraphernalia- Class C misdemeanor

The Jennings County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Officers from the North Vernon Police Department.

----TRAFFIC STOP----

On October 25, 2021 at approximately 02:20 PM Deputies with the Jennings County Sheriff's Office initiated a traffic stop for a driver's license suspension on Park Ave near South State Street.

During the traffic stop a passenger, Andrew R. Golden (38 of Versailles), exited the vehicle with a plastic and attempted to put the plastic bag in his mouth in an attempt to swallow it. Golden would not comply with commands from deputies and a deputy deployed a taser to prevent Golden from swallowing the suspected narcotics. Golden was then taken to the ground where deputies were able to remove the item from his mouth. Golden continued to resist deputies until he was placed in handcuffs.

The driver of the vehicle, Josie E. Robbins (31 of North Vernon) had exited the vehicle and attempted to conceal more narcotics. Sheriff Kenny Freeman was able to detain Robbins without incident and recover the narcotics.

During the course of the traffic stop, it was determined that Golden had a Class A felony warrant through Jennings County Circuit Court for probation revocation on Manufacturing Methamphetamine.

Golden was transported to an area medical provider for medical clearance prior to being taken to the Jennings County Jail. Robbins was transported to the Jennings County Jail for processing.

Both Robbins and Golden are being held on preliminary charges of the following:

ANDREW GOLDEN:

Warrant No Bond

Possession of Meth over 5 grams Level 5 Felony

Possession of Marijuana B-Misdemeanor

Possession of Syringes Level 6 Felony

Obstruction of Justice Level 6 Felony

Resisting Law Enforcement A-Misdemeanor

JOSIE ROBBINS:

Possession of Meth over 5 grams Level 5 Felony

Possession of Marijuana B-Misdemeanor

Possession of Syringes Level 6 Felony

Investigating Officer: Deputy Drew Heilers

Assisting: Sheriff Kenny Freeman

Deputy Kyle Lee

North Vernon Police Department