Suspicious activity report leads to arrest of three people

A suspicious activity report Saturday afternoon about people removing items from a vehicle while wearing rubber gloves resulted in the arrest of three Williamsburg residents on drug-related charges.

About 4 p.m., Deputies Jonas Saunders and E.J. Miller made contact with two men and a woman at a residence at 1247 New Zion Road.

Joshua A. Abrams was coming out of a bathroom inside the residence.

“Upon further investigation, a bag containing needles and a substance believed to be methamphetamine was located inside the toilet within the bathroom where Abrams had exited,” according to a Whitley County Sheriff’s Department news release.

Deputies also confiscated pieces of an orange pill, which is believed to be Suboxone, inside his wallet, according to his arrest citation.

The other man, Michael Lawson, 27, was found to have marijuana in his possession, according to the release.

Natasha Archer was searched and police found a bottle containing a substance believed to be methamphetamine inside a container in her bra. Police also found a round bottle with six pills believed to be hydrocodone, according to her arrest citation and the release.

A glass pipe was found in her purse, the release stated.

Deputies also searched a blue/gray Pontiac G6 outside the residence, and discovered needles, digital scales and plastic baggies, according to the release.

Saunders charged Archer, 32, with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a prescription controlled substance not in its original container.

Saunders charged Abrams, 28, with first-degree possession of a controlled substance (meth), tampering with physical evidence, second-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Deputy Mike Lawson arrested Michael Lawson, 27, and charged him with possession of marijuana and public intoxication.

All three were lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.

Archer and Abrams both pleaded not guilty during their arraignments Monday in Whitley District Court.

Judge Cathy Prewitt set a $25,000 cash bond for Archer.

Prewitt appointed the public advocate’s office to represent Abrams, and set a $10,000 bond in his case with the condition that Abrams enroll in long-term rehab if he is released from custody.

She scheduled Sept. 11 preliminary hearings in both of their cases.

Michael Lawson pleaded guilty to both charges during his arraignment Monday.

Prewitt fined Lawson $200, ordered him to pay court costs, and sentenced him to 30 days in jail. The jail sentence was conditionally discharged or probated meaning that Lawson won’t have to serve any additional time behind bars if he stays out of trouble.

Lawson was released from jail about 3:08 p.m. Monday.