Members of the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department narcotics team recently arrested five people, including a Jackson County man, in three incidents.

On Monday, Paul Kirk, 42, of Seymour was arrested for attempting to traffic drugs into the Jennings County Jail when jail staff was able to intercept the illegal drugs, according to a report from Chief Deputy David Turner.

Kirk was returning to jail after working on a work crew when the drugs were discovered. He was originally being held on a Jennings County warrant for nonsupport of a dependent. He now faces preliminary charges of trafficking, a Level 5 felony; dealing, a Level 6 felony; and possession of a Schedule III controlled substance, a Class A misdemeanor. Kirk is being held in the jail on a bond of $4155.

Also Monday, members of the narcotics team were conducting surveillance on South State Street when deputies observed a hand-to-hand drug transaction take place in the parking area of a local business.

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Officers approached and took into custody Josh Phelps, 31, and Christina Ross, 26, both of North Vernon. They were arrested for dealing in a controlled substance, a Level 6 felony, and are being held at the jail on $2,605 bonds.

On Tuesday, two Jennings County men were arrested on warrants for their participation in dealing drugs in Jennings County, Turner said.

The arrest warrants stem from a lengthy investigation where narcotics team members oversaw the purchase of illegal drugs from Brayton Eder, 24, and Larry Richard Evans, 23, both of North Vernon.

Eder, who was already being held in the Jennings County Jail, was served a warrant for two counts of dealing in methamphetamine and two counts of conspiracy to commit dealing in methamphetamine. He is being held without bond.

Evans, who is being held in the Bartholomew County Jail, was served a warrant for three counts of dealing in methamphetamine and three counts of possession of methamphetamine. His bond has been set at $200,000.