Staff Reports
A 24-year-old Columbus man faces felonies in Brown County for possession of heroin and a syringe after police stopped him for a license-plate violation in April.
Brandon Brown was charged June 14 with possession of a narcotic drug, a Level 6 felony; unlawful possession of a syringe, a Level 6 felony; and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.
Indiana State Police Trooper Matthew Hatchett stopped Brown on April 25 just after 5:30 p.m. at the intersection of State Road 46 East and Salt Creek Road. The vehicle’s permanent license plate was lying in the rear window, according to a probable cause affidavit filed June 14.
Brown told Hatchett he was going home to put bolts on the plate to properly mount it. When asked for his driver’s license and vehicle registration, Brown became “visibly nervous and his hands began shaking rapidly,” the affidavit states.
After checking his license, Hatchett learned that Brown was on probation. He told the officer he completed probation in March. Brown also told Hatchett that he had been addicted to heroin in the past and then consented to Hatchett searching his vehicle. He told Hatchett there was nothing illegal in it.
In the vehicle, Hatchett reported finding two folded pieces of aluminum foil with residue inside, a cut straw, two syringes and two burnt metal spoons. Brown admitted to Hatchett that substance inside the foil was heroin and that he was still addicted to it. He said all of the items were his and that he had relapsed after his treatment ended, the police report said.
