A driver said he didn’t know a pen tube with methamphetamine inside was in his vehicle and someone else must have left it in his vehicle. The driver was arrested early Wednesday.

Wendell Dale Stewart, 30, Sandborn, was arrested by Officer Janzen Franklin of the Linton Police Department early Wednesday, May 12.

Shortly after midnight, Officer Janzen saw a blue 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan eastbound on State Road 54 near the city park in Linton. When Officer Franklin got behind the vehicle, he checked BMV records which showed the vehicle owner’s driver’s license was suspended.

Wendell Stewart was the owner and during a traffic stop, he was identified as the driver who said he did not know his license was suspended yet though he had gotten a notice in the mail saying it would be suspended in three days.

Stewart agreed to let the officer search the vehicle and Officer Franklin reported finding a blue ink pen tube with the regular contents removed. It was in a sunglass case and had a white residue inside the pen tube. The substance field-tested positive as methamphetamine.

Stewart denied knowing the pen tube was in the vehicle. He said he gave someone a ride earlier that day and they must have left it in the vehicle.

Stewart was taken into custody and transported to the Greene County Jail where he was booked in at 1:08 a.m. He was being held without bond pending court appearance.

Stewart is facing a preliminary charge of possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony. His initial hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday afternoon, May 18.