Drug busts net 7

Seymour Police Department's Criminal Interdiction Team has made seven drug-related arrests this week.

The latest investigation early Tuesday morning centered around an east side hotel in Seymour and involved the distribution and possession of methamphetamine.

Five people were arrested, including three from North Vernon. All five were taken to the Jackson County Jail. Those arrested:

Jeremy Howell, 31, Indianapolis, charged with two counts of dealing meth (B felony) and one count of possession of meth (D felony). Howell was on probation in Jackson County for possession of methamphetamine, according to a news release from SPD.

Angela McDonald, 28, North Vernon, charged with dealing meth (B felony) and possession of meth (D felony). McDonald was also wanted on active arrest warrants in Jennings County for failure to appear charges, two counts of battery (B felony) and one count of purchasing more than three grams of pseudoephedrine in one week. McDonald was on probation in Jennings County.

Joshua T. Owens, 32, North Vernon, charged with dealing meth (B felony), possession of meth (D felony), two counts battery (B felony) and purchasing more than three grams of pseudoephedrine in one week, all Jennings County arrest warrants. He was also on probation in Jennings County.

Larissa D. Stokes, 18, Indianapolis, charged with possession of methamphetamine (D felony.)

And Kenneth McDonald, 30, North Vernon, charged with possession of meth (D felony), possession of marijuana, a warrant for failure to appear in Bartholomew County and warrants for probation violation in Decatur County, failure to appear in Jennings County and failure to appear in Jackson County. He was on probation in Jackson, Jennings, Decatur and Bartholomew counties.

The arrests led to officers serving 15 warrants from six different counties and an additional 15 new charges in Jackson County.

On Monday, the Criminal Interdiction Team located a vehicle near a Seymour hotel parking lot that was registered to two Seymour residents wanted on several arrest warrants from multiple counties.

After three search warrants and six hours of surveillance, officers made two arrests.

Charles A. Root, 28, Seymour, was charged with driving while suspended prior, possession of methamphetamine and possession of paraphernalia. He was also wanted in three counties, including Jackson, for dealing methamaphetamine, two counts of failure to appear for charges of possession of methamphetamine and purchasing more than three grams of pseudoephedrine. He had been wanted for 14 months and had avoided arrest, according to a news release.

Michelle L. Root, 32, Seymour, was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of paraphernalia and was also wanted in Lawrence County for purchasing more than three grams of pseudoephedrine in one week.
The Roots had been staying at the east side hotel, and a search of their room revealed items associated with the use, distribution and possession of methamphetamine, police said. They were arrested after being located driving southbound on Walnut Street in Seymour.