Suspect accused of swallowing evidence

A Williamsburg man is facing an evidence tampering charge after allegedly swallowing three grams of what is believed to be crystal methamphetamine during a traffic stop.

About 11:58 p.m. on June 7, Williamsburg Police Officer Cody Jeffries conducted a traffic stop on a 2003 BMW for speeding on US25W South, according to a police department release.

The vehicle was allegedly clocked going 41 mph in a 35 mph zone near the East-West gas station, Jeffries wrote on an arrest citation.

After the vehicle stopped, Jeffries and Sgt. Brandon White allegedly observed the driver, Jim Bart Brown, 35, put something in his mouth, the citation stated.

When Jeffries got to the driver’s side window, he told Brown to open his mouth and allegedly observed a small clear baggie with a crystal substance inside, both the citation and release stated.

Jeffries told Brown to spit it out, and then Brown allegedly turned his head, swallowed the object and told police he didn’t have anything, the release stated.

The front seat passenger told police that Brown allegedly had a plastic baggie with three grams of what she believed to be “ice,” the citation stated.

“Ice” is an extremely pure and potent form of crystal methamphetamine.

Jeffries arrested Brown without incident charging him with tampering with physical evidence, which is a class “D” felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Brown was lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center about 1:23 a.m. on June 8 and released on a $750 surety bond about two hours later.

Brown is scheduled to be arraigned on June 27 in Whitley District Court.

Officer Mike Taylor and K-9 Officer Elijah Hunter also assisted with the investigation.