On Wednesday, May 22, at approximately 5:10 in the afternoon, an officer with the Washington police department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a gray 2017 Ford Explorer for a traffic infraction on West Old US Highway 50. The driver of the vehicle, 38-year-old Derek Ebler, pulled over momentarily and then fled in the vehicle west on the highway. The pursuit ended at the Maysville public access parking lot where Ebler was taking into custody without incident. It was discovered that Ebler had been discarding marijuana out of the vehicle during the pursuit. The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office and Indiana State Police assisted during the investigation.
At approximately 7:30 PM, officers with the Washington Police Department, DEA Task Force, and Daviess County sheriffs office served a search warrant at Ebler’s residence. Officers reported locating a marijuana growing operation that included approximately 145 marijuana plants, 18 handguns, and 10 long guns. At least nine of these firearms have been confirmed to be stolen, and it’s expected that at least four more of them had been reported stolen as well.
Ebler was arrested for resisting law enforcement, 13 counts of theft of a firearm, dealing marijuana, possession of marijuana, reckless driving, manufacturing hash oil, and maintaining a common nuisance.
