Traffic Stop Leads To Drug Bust In Lawrenceburg

A spray painted car caught the attention of Lawrenceburg Police on January 14.

Samantha Perkins. Photo by the Dearborn County Sheriff's Office. 

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - A Lawrenceburg woman is facing multiple drug related charges after traffic stop along U.S. 50. 

Lawrenceburg Police were conducting patrol along U.S. 50 on January 14 around 8:20 p.m. when the officer observed a female operating a vehicle that had been spray painted black. 

After conducting a BMV inquiry on the vehicle, the officer learned that the vehicle belonged to a man out of Franklin, Indiana. The officer initiated a traffic stop due to the registration being false and fictitious. 

During the stop, the officer made contact with the driver, who was identified as Samantha Perkins, 35. 

According to a probable cause affidavit, Perkins was on the phone when the officer tried to get her identification, and Lawrenceburg Police K9 was requested to respond. 

Upon arrival, patrol canine Siri conducted a free air sniff and gave a positive alert that drugs were inside the vehicle. 

Perkins was detained and police conducted a probable cause search. Officers located a lockbox behind the rear bench seat of the vehicle. The box allegedly contained a bag of crystal-like substance, numerous unused empty plastic bags, two separate bags of pills, an electronic scale, a hypodermic syringe, a rolled up dollar bill containing white residue, a key to the lock box, and a small canister containing a green-like plant substance. 

Perkins denied ownership of the lock box.

However, police say a key shaped object was found on Perkins' body during an x-ray scan at the Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center. Perkins allegedly told police the key belonged to her daughter's diary, however, the key was a fit and opened the lock box containing the controlled substances, narcotics and paraphernalia.  

Perkins is charged with Possession with the Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine (Level 4 Felony), Possession of Methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Possession of a Syringe (Level 6 Felony), Obstruction of Justice (Level 6 Felony), two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance (Class A Misdemeanor), Possession of Marijuana (Class A Misdemeanor), and Possession of Paraphernalia (Class A Misdemeanor). 

She had her initial hearing in Dearborn County Circuit Court on Tuesday. Bond was set at $100,000 surety, in addition to a cash only bond of $2,000. 

The Court noted the nature and severity of the charges, and a history of two failures to appear when considering the bond amount.