A July 31 fender-bender on US 231 just more than 1,000 feet from Interstate 69 ended in two arrests for both misdemeanor and felony charges. 

A witness at the scene told Greene County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Jordan Allor he was traveling north behind a Dodge Ram pulling a camper. He noticed a red Oldsmobile Alero in a driveway on the east side of the roadway. As the Dodge was approaching the witness said the Oldsmobile entered the northbound late. He said the Dodge swerved to avoid a collision but the camper collided with the front bumper of the Oldsmobile. The witness told Allor the driver of the Oldsmobile was a male, later identified as Irvin Judge Love, III, 58, of Elkhart. The passenger was later identified as Mary Kay Love, 61, of Elkhart. 

When speaking with the Love’s, Irvin said he was not driving; however, Allor told Irvin the witness said he was the driver. Irvin changed his original statement and said he was behind the wheel but wasn’t the one driving during the accident. Irvin said he was parked when the camper hit the Oldsmobile. 

When asking for identification, Irvin said he did not have his on him and Mary said her purse had been stolen at a gas station but said she had a driver’s license issued from Texas. Irvin told Allor his name was John Love, while Mary said her name was Mary Brown. When checking, Allor found neither matched the names given. 

Allor told Irvin he didn’t believe he was John Love. Irvin said he must have run the wrong social security number as there are probably several John Loves. Allor spoke to Mary who admitted his real identity as Irvin Love. Mary said Irvin is her cousin while John is her son.

Allor asked Irvin why he gave him the wrong information. He said he had an active warrant out of Elkhart County. 

Both Irvin and Mary were transported to Greene County Jail while Allor completed an inventory of the vehicle.

Behind the driver’s seat Allor found a blue with red and white bag containing: 

• A cream Crown Royal bag with a Bryco Arms .22 caliber handgun reported stolen from Tennessee

• A purple Crown Royal bag with black plastic zip style bag containing clear plastic bag containing approximately 10.98 grams of green plant material, 23 dollars together, four $20 bills bundled together, five $20 dollar bills bundled together, a $50 bill, four $10 bills, and two $5 bills all bundled together. 

• A clear plastic vial containing a green plant material

Found in the rear driver’s side seat was: 

• A blue bag containing clothing

• A black purse with $23

• A receipt for WW Pawn from Elkhart for the sale of a Federal 22LR 40 from “WW PAWN” in Elkhart. The receipt shows that the sale was for a Federal 22LR 40 GR 325 round box of ammunition. The purchase was made on July 30.

Sgt. Allor stopped his inventory of the vehicle and applied for a search warrant. Items seized after the approval of the search warrant was approved included: 

• Two clear plastic bags both containing green plant material.

• A clear plastic bag containing approximately 28.7 grams of green plant material

• Red metal marijuana grinder

• Clear plastic bag containing green plant material

• Several empty clear plastic bags

• Red and black smoking device

• LG phone with blue back and pink case

• Motorola phone with clear and purple case

• Samsung phone with black back and blue case

• Amazon tablet

• Schok phone

• White android-based phone

• Box of Federal .22 cal. ammunition

• Black and clear electronic cigarette containing a yellow wax substance

• Clear zip style bag containing several assorted empty plastic bags

• Twenty-dollar bill

 Allor interviewed Mary at the Greene County Jail on Aug. 1. She said she and Irvin were on a trip from Elkhart to Dallas to take some items to her sister-in-law. She said they stopped at a gas station on East State Road 58 near US Highway 231 and missed the ramp for I-69 and were turning around when the accident occurred. 

When Allor showed her a photo of the blue with red and white bag, Mary said she recognized it. 

Mary admitted she knew the gun was stolen but didn’t know it had been stolen from Tennessee. She allegedly told Allor it must have belonged to someone named Juan who had been traveling with them previously. She said if she had known he was traveling with anything, she would not have let him in the car. Allor asked Mary about the recent ammunition purchase. She said Juan must have made the purchase; however, Allor pointed out the receipt was in a bag belonging to Mary. She said she loaned him some money to purchase the ammo but wasn’t aware he had the gun with him at that time.

Mary stated the purple Crown Royal bag containing money was hers. Allor asked why she kept the money rolled up in rubber bands. She claimed she’s always kept her money that way. She said she has the money because she sells pop, chips, candy, and other items. She was quoted in the probable cause affidavit as saying, “I don’t sell drugs, period. Do I smoke weed? Yes.” 

Allor said he believed she sold marijuana based on the way the money was rolled coupled with the marijuana and plastic bags in the vehicle. She admitted she was aware of the marijuana in the vehicle but claimed she wasn’t aware of the plastic bags. Her reasoning for having the bags in the car was she has a friend who does sell the drug. Mary later admitted to Allor that the marijuana in the vehicle belonged to her.

Irvin is facing charges of identity deception, a Level 6 Felony, and driving while suspended with a prior conviction within 10 years, a Class A Misdemeanor. 

Mary is facing charges of unlawful carrying of a handgun with a prior conviction, a Level 5 felony, and possession of marijuana, a Class B Misdemeanor.