A traffic stop led to the arrest of a Loogootee woman and man.
On Sunday, November 10, at 4:00 p.m., Martin County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Deputy Josh Harmon was on patrol in Loogootee when he observed a vehicle commit multiple traffic violations. Reserve Deputy Harmon initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver was identified as 39-year-old Joshua A. Phillips of Crane and a passenger who was identified as 22-year-old Joselyn R. Souerdike of Loogootee.
Reserve Deputy Harmon requested the assistance of Martin County Sheriff’s Office’s Corporal Tyler Reed and his K9, Virka. Shortly after, Deputy Andrea Barnett and Loogootee Police Officer Case Cummings arrived on scene to assist. Corporal Reed utilized his narcotics-certified K9 Virka for a free air sniff of Mr. Phillips’ vehicle; K9 Virka gave a positive indication for the odor of narcotics. It was also discovered that Mr. Phillips and Ms. Souerdike had an active no-contact order between the two of them. They were then placed into custody. During the search of Ms. Souerdike, at the scene, she was discovered to have a Scheduled II Controlled Substance located inside her pocket. Souerdike and Philips were transported to the Martin County Security without incident.
When Ms. Souerdike was searched inside the Security Center, a bag containing a white crystal-like substance, that field-tested positive for Methamphetamine, was found with a syringe containing residue that also field-tested positive for Methamphetamine.
Souerdike was arrested Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Syringe, Trafficking, Possession of Scheduled II controlled substance, Possession of Paraphernalia, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, and Invasion of Privacy.
Phillips was arrested on charges of Invasion of Privacy.
