Man allegedly found with methamphetamine, cocaine after running from police

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. - A man was arrested after officers found numerous drugs in a backpack he was carrying as he was running from police, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Mercede Geter, 26, was arrested on the charges of possession of cocaine, possession of methamphetamine, and resisting law enforcement.

On Saturday, an officer with the South Bend Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle after it allegedly did not signal a turn at two different intersections.

The vehicle originally sped up but then slowed down and pulled over, reports said.

The front passenger of the vehicle, later identified as Mercede Geter, jumped out of the vehicle and began running, police said.

Geter was described as wearing a blue top, jeans, and carrying a white, sling-style backpack.

The officer started chasing Geter but lost him, eventually calling for a perimeter to be set up before K9 Zeke was brought to the scene.

During the search for Geter, K9 Zeke found the white backpack Geter was seen carrying.

Inside the backpack were two handguns, an extended magazine, multiple blue and white pills, a baggie with a rock-like substance inside, and a bag with a clump of black substance inside.

The white pills were found to be benzodiazepines, the blue pills field tested positive for methamphetamine, and one of the substances in a baggie field tested positive for cocaine, according to reports.

The black substance tested inconclusive.

Both of the firearms had been reported stolen, police said.

Geter was eventually found and detained.

Officers learned Geter has multiple prior arrests in Cook County and Park Forest for possession of weapons and dangerous drugs, according to reports.

Geter told police he didn't know what happened that evening but that he was on his way home to his dad's house on Elmer Street but didn't know his address.

When asked what he was doing in South Bend since he is from Chicago, Geter said he was just visiting his dad and no one else, reports said.

Geter is being held on a $10,000 cash bond.

His initial hearing is scheduled for December 7.