After an ISP K9 alerted to the presence of controlled substances during a routine traffic stop yesterday, one woman was arrested and is accused of dealing methamphetamine.

Sharon A. Hutchison, 53, Springville, was arrested by Trooper Caleb Garvin of the Indiana State Police yesterday, Thursday, January 23. She was booked into the Greene County Jail around 5 p.m.

Hutchison was a passenger in a white Ford Ranger that was stopped on State Road 45 just north of SR 445 around 3:30 p.m. for a partially covered license plate.

Trooper Garvin said Hutchison was extremely nervous during the stop and when ISP Trooper Matthew Hatchell and his K9 partner Axe arrived to assist, K9 Axe alerted to the presence of controlled substances during a free air sniff around the vehicle.

Trooper Garvin reported that when the vehicle was searched, inside a purse that had been held by Hutchison, they located $830 cash plus a baggie with a white crystal substance and 11 empty clear plastic baggies plus a blue rubber tie-off. A second handbag contained two clear plastic bags containing a crystal residue, multiple syringes, a plastic straw and a digital scale with residue.

Hutchison allegedly admitted the items belonged to her and not to the driver. Trooper Garvin noted the crystal substance weighed approximately 3.2 grams.

Hutchison was being held without bond pending her appearance in court.

She is facing preliminary charges of:

Dealing in methamphetamine – amount between one and five grams, a Level 4 felony,
Possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony, and
Unlawful possession of a syringe, a Level 6 felony.

Hutchison has another case pending against her in which she has been charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a legend drug, both Level 6 felonies, and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.