A random vehicle registration status check in eastern Greene County showed one of the vehicle’s owners had a suspended driver’s license but after a traffic stop, the driver and passenger are behind bars on drug-related charges. 

Indiana State Police Senior Trooper Richard Klun was pulling into the Pinewood Gas Station on May 12 when he ran a registration on a Ford Ranger. The check confirmed that one of the owners, William Sater, 55, Bloomfield, had a suspended driver’s license. Once confirming Sater was the driver of the vehicle, Klun initiated a traffic stop. Klun informed Sater of the reason for the traffic stop. In the probable cause affidavit, he noted Sater was avoiding eye contact and would look to the passenger, identified as 59-year-old Dixie Barnes of Bloomfield, when asked a question. 

While speaking with the two, the officer observed a small circular metal cap sitting on the floorboard in between the driver and passenger floorboards. Based on Klun’s experience, the caps are often used as a vessel to ingest illegal drugs. 

Klun asked Sater for consent to search the truck. Sater granted the officer consent. He had Sater and Barnes stand at the front driver’s side quarter panel of the truck while he conducted the search.

The first thing located was a red and white IU jacked with a hypodermic syringe in the pocket. Sater alleged the jacket belonged to a friend but he didn’t know the friend’s name. 

Sater and Barnes were read their Miranda Rights and detained while Klun requested another unit for assistance. 

Klun went to the back of his vehicle to obtain evidence bags. While back at his truck, he observed Sater and Barnes speaking to one another, then turning back-to-back, appearing to pass something. Klun asked Sater about what happened and he admitted he had heroin in his hand. The heroin was collected from him, as well as a syringe he admitted to having in his back pocket. A plastic bag was also obtained from his front left pocket. The bag contained numerous syringes and a blue glass smoking device which later field tested positive for methamphetamine. 

Also located in the truck was the bottom of a soda can with residue on it, a syringe in a trash bag and a digital scale and spoon, both of which had residue on them. 

During a search of Barnes’ purse, a hypodermic syringe, in which she stated that she used the syringe to ingest heroin was located.

Initially, both Sater and Barnes were released on their own recognizance and advised that a case would be filed with the Greene County Prosecutor’s office for review of charges. They were both arrested June 8 after warrants were filed on Greene Superior Court. 

Both Barnes and Sater were held without bond until after their initial court appearances. Both appeared in court on Tuesday. For Barnes, bond was set at $20,000 surety with 10 percent allowed. For Sater, bond was also set at $20,000 surety with 10 percent allowed. 

Sater was charged with: 

• Possession of Cocaine, a Level 6 Felony

• Possession of Methamphetamine, a Level 6 Felony

• Unlawful Possession of Syringe, a Level 6 Felony

• Possession of Paraphernalia, a Class C Misdemeanor

Barnes was charged with: 

• Possession of a Narcotic Drug, a Level 6 Felony

• Unlawful Possession of Syringe, a Level 6 Felony