Published: May 13, 2008 11:16 am         

Police turn theft arrest into drug bust

Cass County residents charged in theft from Rural King, drug dealing at local elementary

Police say a theft arrest led to a controlled buy of marijuana near a local elementary on Monday.

Police responded at 2:25 p.m. Monday to a theft of shotgun shells from Rural King. Three males had left the retail store in the 3300 block of East Market Street in a white pickup truck.

Soon after, police pulled over a truck carrying three teenagers, 18-year-old Michael A. Conklin of Logansport, 18-year-old Curtis Wayne Lewis of Royal Center and a 17-year-old from Logansport.

According to a police report, a search of the truck and the teenagers’ belongings turned up a bag of marijuana, along with several plastic bags and a set of scales. Police also reported finding a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, along with ammunition.

Lewis was charged with possession of paraphernalia and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. The Logansport juvenile was arrested on a charge of carrying a handgun without a license.

Conklin was booked into the Cass County Jail on a charge of theft.

The Logansport juvenile was taken to a juvenile correctional facility in Muncie, but before he was shipped out, police, including an officer from the Cass County Drug Task Force, set up a controlled buy.

Police said one of the teenagers called 18-year-old Ryan J. Robinson of Galveston and arranged to meet at Franklin Elementary School for a marijuana deal.

Police drove to the school and reportedly confronted Robinson, who was accompanied by 20-year-old Joshua D. Mitchell of Galveston.

Police reported finding marijuana in Mitchell’s pocket and in the waistband of his underwear. He was arrested on a charge of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver within 1,000 feet of a school.

Robinson had a partially burnt marijuana cigarette, according to police. He was arrested on charges of conspiracy to deal marijuana to a subject under 18 and possession of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school.

All charges are class D felonies. If convicted, the sentencing range is six months to three years in the Indiana Department of Correction.

Kevin Lilly can be reached at (574) 732-5117, or via e-mail at kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com