Lawrence County - Tuesday, January 5, 2021, the Indiana State Police concluded a lengthy investigation into dealing methamphetamine. ISP received information that Heather A. Blessing, age 34, of Ellettsville, IN and Eric M. Flaherty, age 39, of Louisville, KY were involved in dealing methamphetamine in Lawrence, Greene, and Monroe counties.

The investigation, conducted by the ISP Drug Enforcement Section and the ISP Bloomington District indeed, showed that they were distributing methamphetamine. On January 5th, ISP learned that Blessing and Flaherty were allegedly traveling to Kentucky to obtain a large quantity of methamphetamine, intending to bring it back to the local community for distribution.

At approximately 11:30 p.m., Troopers Caleb Garvin, Chance Humphrey, and Matt Hatchett attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Dodge being driven by Blessing along SR 37, just north of the Orange County line. Flaherty was a passenger in the vehicle. When troopers activated their emergency lights to conduct the stop, Blessing accelerated and tried to elude officers. However, ISP Sgt. Greg Day had planned to mitigate any dangers to the public by sitting along SR 37, a mile from the initial attempted stop location with Trooper Cody Brown in anticipation of a vehicle pursuit. Sgt. Day and Trp. Brown deployed stop sticks (tire deflation devices) and the Dodge struck both sets of stop sticks and immediately began to lose air in the tires.

The Dodge continued northbound with ISP troopers in pursuit at speeds no higher than 75mph after the stop sticks were struck. As the Dodge traveled north, Lawrence County Sheriff Department Captain Troy Lobosky, Sgt. Riley Hitchcock, and Officer Tyler Ogden were staged near SR 60 east. Officer Ogden had traffic from SR 60 blocked for public safety. Capt. Lobosky deployed additional stop sticks, which the Dodge struck. Mitchell Police Officers Michael Bargo and Luke McCammeron also assisted.

The Dodge traveled north on SR 37 at very low speeds, where it had lost all the four tires. Flaherty and Blessing then began to throw large bags of methamphetamine from the windows. The Dodge then spun around in a 360-degree spin, coming to rest along the side of SR 37. As the Dodge was spinning, Flaherty jumped out of the moving vehicle and was quickly taken into custody by ISP, LCPD, and MPD officers. Blessing fled on foot from the vehicle after it stopped and ran east from SR 37.

Troopers Garvin, Humphrey, and Brown quickly caught Blessing and took her into custody after a very brief struggle. Blessing was found to be in possession of a loaded .380 handgun. An inventory was conducted on the vehicle, where another loaded .380 handgun, was discovered. Further investigation revealed the handgun had been stolen out of Kentucky. Officers recovered approximately 400 grams (14 ounces) of methamphetamine from the Dodge and the side of the roadway. Both subjects were taken into custody and transported to the Lawrence County Jail, where they are currently being detained.

Indiana State Police Sgt. Day stated, “This investigation and arrest is a great example of detailed investigation, pre-planning, and cooperation between multiple departments.” He also said, “The preparation led to mitigating potential danger to the public by quickly de-escalating the situation. Our local communities are now safer by taking two alleged major methamphetamine dealers and almost a pound of methamphetamine off the streets.”

Arrested and Charges:

Heather A. Blessing, 34, Ellettsville, IN