Traffic Stop in Tippecanoe County Nets Drugs, Guns and Three Arrests

Tippecanoe County-Thursday early evening around 5:38 p.m. on I-65 northbound near the 184 mile marker, a trooper stopped a car for a minor traffic violation and ended up arresting three people on drug and weapons charges.

Trooper Dexter Whitten was on the interstate on normal patrol when he witnessed a red 2003 Saab passenger vehicle commit a traffic violation.  Trooper Whitten proceeded to stop the vehicle and walked up to the passenger side of the vehicle and asked for a license and registration. The driver admitted to not having either.  He asked the passengers for identification and neither of them could produce the documents.  After getting verbal IDs from all three, he returned to his police car and did a check of all three individuals.

The driver, Akeem Moore, 24 of Minnesota was found to have a suspended driver’s license.  Andrew Best, 22 of Indiana was also suspended and Domnick Shaw, 19 of Minnesota only had an ID card.  Trooper Whitten with assistance from Trooper Peter Stephan who had just arrived, went back up to the vehicle an advised all three to step out of the car for it was being impounded for no valid driver among the three.  As the two troopers continued talking to the three, the suspicion of criminal activity was present.  Upon further investigation, two guns were found in the vehicle along with what appeared to be marijuana, cocaine and some pills.

All three were placed into custody and charged with:

Moore:

1. Possession of Cocaine over 28 grams
2. Possession of firearms by a Serious Violent Felon
3. Visiting a Common Nuisance
4. Possession of a Controlled Substance
5. Possession of Paraphernalia
6. Operating While Intoxicated under a Controlled Substance

Best:

1. Possession of Cocaine over 28 grams
2. Possession of Paraphernalia
3. Visiting a Common Nuisance
4. Possession of a Controlled substance

Shaw:

1. Possession of Cocaine over 28 grams
2. Possession of Paraphernalia
3. Visiting a Common Nuisance
4. Possession of a Controlled Substance
5. Possession of Marijuana

They were all transported to Tippecanoe County jail.  The investigation is continuing.  Also assisting at the scene was Troopers Sean Schaefer and Michael Risley along with Farney’s Wrecker Service.

Suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.