Staff Reports

North Vernon Police Officer Shane Trepanier and K-9 Zobi assisted in three incidents that led to five people arrested during their first week of patrol after recently graduating from K-9 school.

According to a police department news release from Sgt. Andrew Richmond:

On June 9, Officer Mike Holliday called for Trepanier and Zobi to assist him on a suspicious person call he was working. Zobi sniffed the suspect’s car and alerted police to the odor of an illegal drug within it. A subsequent search revealed a small amount of heroin in a bag. C. Evan Lessley, 27, of Commiskey and Nicole Stephens, 25, of North Vernon were arrested on Level 6 felony charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of a syringe.

Sgt. Craig Kipper asked for assistance from Trepanier and Zobi at a traffic stop he initiated June 12, and suspected drug activity was occurring. Zobi alerted police to the odor of illegal drugs within the vehicle. A subsequent search revealed several empty plastic bags with residue, and a methamphetamine smoking pipe was found under one of the vehicle seats. Matthew R. Daniels, 29, of North Vernon was arrested on a Level 6 felony charge of possession of methamphetamine and a Class A misdemeanor charge of possession of paraphernalia.

On June 13, Officer Wes Thayer asked for Trepanier and Zobi to meet him at a property-damage wreck he was investigating. Zobi sniffed the car and alerted police to the presence of drug odor, and the vehicle was searched. Prescription pills not in a prescribed container were located during the search. Alex C. Simmons, 28, and Tara L. Simmons, 32, both of North Vernon, were arrested on a Level 6 felony charge of possession of a controlled substance. Tara Simmons also faces a second Level 6 felony charge of possession of methamphetamine and a Class A misdemeanor of possession of paraphernalia.