2 men arrested on drug dealing charges after traffic stop
STARKE COUNTY, Ind. -- Two people were arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop and brief pursuit, according to the Starke County Sheriff's Department.
Around 2 p.m. Thursday, a K9 officer spotted a wanted subject turning north onto US35 from Henry Drive.
He attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, but the driver pulled behind a liquor store and allegedly tossed several baggies of drugs out the window.
Deputies said the driver stopped at the old BK Drive Inn.
The driver, 26-year-old John Piper Jr, was taken into custody after the deputy confirmed he had an active warrant.
Passenger Ryan Furlano, 25, was detained. Officers say they located 30 bags of heroin on him when they patted him down for officer safety.
The deputy retrieved the baggies allegedly thrown out of the window before the traffic stop.
Piper has been preliminarily charged with Dealing Heroin, Possession of Heroin, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Resisting Law Enforcement using a vehicle, Possession of Paraphernalia and Driving While Suspended w/ a Prior.
Piper also had 2 outstanding warrants.
Furlano has been preliminarily charged with dealing heroin, possession of heroin, visiting a common nuisance, possession of paraphernalia.