LOOGOOTEE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — An investigation Wednesday into abandoned puppies resulted in the arrest of a Loogootee man on gun and drug charges, Martin County Sheriff Travis Roush reported Friday.
On Wednesday, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) received a complaint concerning abandoned puppies at a residence in Loogootee. Martin County Animal Control Officer Joshua Hughett and Martin County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Tyler Reed responded to the location, where they made contact with a male sleeping in a vehicle.
They advised the man of the complaint and he responded that the puppies were in the backseat of his vehicle. While speaking with the man, identified as Michael R. Hert, 45, of Loogootee, officers smelled the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.
Sgt. Reed ordered Hert to exit the vehicle twice and after he refused both times, Reed attempted to open the vehicle door but it was locked. Reed reached through the window to open the door from the inside, whereupon Hert rolled up the window on the officer’s arm. Reed was able to open the door from the inside and free his arm, detaining Hert in handcuffs.
Loogootee Police Department Chief Kelly Rayhill, Indiana State Police Trooper Andrew Beaver, and MCSO Major Keith Keller arrived to assist.
Once the puppies were secured in ACO Hughett’s vehicle, officers conducted a search of the vehicle, resulting in the discovery of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, one gram of a white crystal substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine, 341 grams of a substance that field tested positive for marijuana, one syringe that contained residue that field tested positive for methamphetamine, three burnt hand-rolled cigarettes that field tested positive for marijuana and one digital scale containing residue that field tested positive for methamphetamine.
Mr. Hert was arrested and transported to the Martin County Security Center, where he was charged with possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon (a level 4 felony), possession of methamphetamine with enhancing circumstance (firearm) and possession of a firearm with obliterated serial number (both level 5 felonies), unlawful possession of a syringe and battery to law enforcement (both level 6 felonies), resisting law enforcement and dealing in marijuana (both class A misdemeanors) and possession of marijuana (a class B misdemeanor).
ACO Hughett took possession of the puppies.
