Published: March 24, 2008 03:22 pm         

Indianapolis man charged with dealing

AVON, Ind. — A routine traffic stop on Raceway Road early Saturday morning led to the arrest of an alleged drug dealer.

Police officers arrested Ajaye A. Fowler, 30, of Indianapolis, and charged him with possession of marijuana, dealing in marijuana, and operating while intoxicated, all class D felonies.

Avon Police Sgt. Jeff Lewis said Officer Blake Roope was northbound on Raceway Road when a silver 2004 GMC Yukon nearly collided with his patrol car as it traveled southbound.

Roope initiated a traffic stop, had Fowler perform a field sobriety test, and then transported him to the Hendricks County Jail in Danville for a breathalyzer test. Fowler was then charged with operating while intoxicated.

Meanwhile, Lewis said Officer Ryan Grismore noticed a strong smell of marijuana coming from the Yukon. Grismore found more than five ounces of marijuana, as well as some prescription pills, numerous plastic baggies, and a digital scale.

When the search was complete, he said police found 3.8 pounds of marijuana in the car. He said the prescription pills were legitimate.

Lewis said police then initiated a search warrant on Fowler’s home, using the department’s new K-9 team of Officer Tony Fite and his dog Hunter. He said Fite and Hunter had been certified by the state as a K-9 team Friday night.

Inside the house, police found an additional 3.14 pounds of marijuana and $4,800 in cash.

“The officers should be commended for taking the extra steps,” Lewis said. “They could have settled for the felony arrests out of the car, but they went the extra mile and it paid off with 3.5 pounds of marijuana and a little under $5,000 taken off the street.”

Fowler bonded out of jail shortly after his arrest.





Amanda Roach writes for the Hendricks County Flyer in Avon, Ind.