2 arrested for possessing fentanyl after traffic stop in Wayne County

RICHMOND, Ind. (WISH) — A traffic stop on Interstate 70 in Wayne County led to the arrests of two people and the confiscation of 15 grams of suspected fentanyl.

On Aug. 7, at 1:30 a.m., Wayne County 911 dispatchers received a report of a blue vehicle hitting a guardrail near the 150-mile marker of I-70 westbound and continuing west. An Indiana State Police (ISP) trooper with the Pendleton District found the vehicle stopped in the roadway near the 146-mile marker.

As the trooper approached the vehicle, he found both the driver and passenger unconscious inside. While checking their welfare, the trooper saw a small plastic bag containing a while powdery substance plainly visible between the passenger’s legs. The substance is suspected to be fentanyl, a potent synthetic opiod.

After removing both occupants from the vehicle, the trooper conduced a standardized field sobriety tests on the driver. The driver, identified as Justin C. Dawson, 45, of Connersville, was arrested and preliminarily charged with possession of a narcotic drug, possession of a controlled substance, operating while intoxicated – endangering, and operating while intoxicated – controlled substance.

The passenger, identified as Roxanne N. Steele, 43, of Connersville, was arrested and preliminarily charged with possession of a narcotic drug and possession of a controlled substance.

Both Dawson and Steele were taken to the Wayne County Jail without incident. The suspected fentanyl was seized as evidence and will be submitted to the Indiana State Police Laboratory for additional analysis.

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