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Bloomington arrested on drug-related charges in parking lot of Community Corrections

A Bloomington woman was arrested Dec. 7 on drug charges in the parking lot of Greene County Community Corrections after staff reported behavior consistent with drug use. 

Greene County Community Corrections staff contacted Greene County Dispatch at approximately 5:44 a.m. on Dec. 7 regarding a female in a passenger car exhibiting behavior consistent with drug use. 

Greene County Sheriff’s Department Deputies Andrew Shelton, Christopher Anderson, and Camron Frye responded to the facility and found 51-year-old Lisa Jo Welding in the driver’s seat of a Pontiac Bonneville. According to the probable cause affidavit written by Deputy Frye, the vehicle was running. 

When Deputy Shelton approached the vehicle, Welding rolled down the window. According to the probable cause, Welding’s eyes were wide and she was speaking quickly. When approaching the vehicle, Shelton wrote that he detected an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. When advising Welding that the vehicle was going to be searched due to the odor of marijuana, she was asked if there was anything inside other than marijuana. According to the probable cause, she replied “not really”.

Deputies Shelton and Frye searched the vehicle. Welding requested her wallet from the vehicle. Deputy Frye searched the wallet and per the probable cause affidavit located a clear plastic bag with white residue located inside the bill pocket. In a large, zippered pocket of the wallet, Deputy Frye located another clear plastic bag with white residue. This bag also contained a cut, blue plastic straw with residue inside. The substance later field-tested positive for methamphetamine.

When asked what was in her wallet, Welding alleged nothing. According to the probable cause affidavit, she said she had just purchased it from Goodwill. Although her ID was inside the wallet, she alleged the drug-related items were not. She said she did not look through the wallet when she purchased it, but instead “shook it out”. 

Deputy Shelton placed Welding in handcuffs while Deputy Frye continued searching the vehicle. 

Also located during the search, according to the probable cause, were:

  • An orange/yellow/blue glass smoking device 

  • Jars containing plant-like material residue

  • A container with empty roller paper

  • A clear glass smoking device with a burnt white crystal-like substance that later field-tested positive for methamphetamine

  • Containers of hand-rolled joints with burnt plant-like material inside

  • A red metal grinder was also found. Inside the grinder was plant-like material that later field-tested positive for marijuana. 

  • A multi-blue colored smoking glass with plant-like material inside

After stating she understood the Miranda Warnings, Welding, according to the probable cause affidavit, admitted to using methamphetamine approximately three days prior. 

Welding was transported to Greene County Jail by Deputy Shelton. She was held without bond until her initial hearing in Greene Superior Court on Dec. 15. A bail review hearing was set for Jan. 2, 2024. 

She faces charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and possession of paraphernalia.