At approximately 9:00 p.m. last night a traffic stop on I-69 near the 61 mile marker ended with an Evansville man in jail on drug related charges.
Trooper Ross Johnson was conducting traffic patrols on I-69 when he stopped a 2010 Dodge Caliber traveling 80 mph in a 70 mph zone. While speaking with the driver, Christopher R. Ness, 30 Evansville, Trooper Johnson noticed signs of impairment and a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. Trooper Johnson conducted Standardized Field Sobriety tests and determined that Ness was impaired. Ness was detained so a certified chemical test could be conducted.
A search of the vehicle revealed a book that had been modified to conceal illegal narcotics. The book contained marijuana, a marijuana grinder and a lighter. Also located in the vehicle glass pipe commonly used to smoke marijuana.
Ness was transported to Daviess County Community Hospital for the certified chemical test and while the certified results will not be known for some time as the samples are sent to the Indiana Department of Toxicology for analysis the preliminary results indicated the presence of THC, the chemical in marijuana, in Ness’ blood. Ness was then transported to the Daviess County Jail and remanded to the jail staff without incident.
Arrested and Charges:
Christopher R. Ness, 30, Evansville
- Possession of marijuana
- Possession of paraphernalia
- Operating a vehicle while intoxicated
- Maintaining a common nuisance
Assisting at the scene of the traffic stop was Trooper Beau Brumett and the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office.
