A Linton man whose license was suspended, who is accused of failing to pull over for a traffic stop, is facing drug charges after his vehicle was towed and inventoried.

Steven Jarrett Wayne Gibson, 31, Linton, was arrested by Officer Adam King of the Linton Police Department on Saturday, February 6, on a warrant that was issued for his arrest following an incident that occurred on Thursday, January 21.

Officer King was on patrol in the area of A Street NW and 6th Street NW in Linton on Thursday, January 21, when he initiated a traffic stop at 1:12 a.m. on a gray 2003 Toyota Echo because the vehicle’s license plate light was inoperable.

After noticing the license plate light, the Toyota turned north on 5th Street NW and Officer King hit the emergency lights near 5th and C Streets NW. He said at that time, the Toyota turned onto D Street NW and sped up, disregarding two stop signs at the intersections with 4th and then 3rd Streets NW.

After turning north on 3rd Street NW, the Toyota disregarded another stop sign at 3rd and E Streets NW. It finally came to a stop in front of a residence on 3rd Street NW.

The driver, later identified as Gibson, was asked to get out of the vehicle, then was handcuffed.

Gibson allegedly told the officer he had just been released from the hospital due to overdosing earlier in the day. He said he was just trying to get home.

A records check revealed Gibson’s driver’s license was suspended with a prior conviction for driving while suspended in 2017.

Gibson’s vehicle was towed but Gibson was released from the scene at that time with a warning that charges would be submitted to the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office.

Gibson was also handed at least five citations, for disregarding stop signs, for failure to signal a turn, for failure to use a seat belt, and for an inoperable license plate light.

Officer King reported that during the required inventory of the vehicle, a number of evidentiary items were found, including a small glass jar that contained green leafy plant material, a Ziploc bag with a white crystal substance, a Ziploc bag with a grayish-brown powder, a clear container with 11 round white pills identified as Lorazepam - a controlled substance, and a smoking device with burnt residue. Several items have been sent to an Indiana State Police laboratory for testing.

Before charges were filed in the above incident, Gibson was stopped again.

On Wednesday, January 27, Deputy James Carpenter of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department was on duty providing extra man-power due to slick road conditions from a snowfall. Around 6 p.m. when he was at the intersection of State Road 54 and County Road 1000 West on the east edge of Linton, Gibson’s gray 2003 Toyota was traveling in front of him on CR 1000 West.

Deputy Carpenter reported when the traffic light was red and they were stopped, the Toyota began creeping out into SR 54 then drove through the red light to cross the highway and continue south on CR 1000 West.

When Deputy Carpenter initiated a traffic stop, the Toyota stopped in the parking lot of Walmart. Gibson was identified as the driver. A records check again revealed Gibson’s driver’s license was suspended and the driver’s license of a female passenger was also suspended. Gibson said he had someone coming to get the car and the deputy advised him to park it in the parking lot and that a charge for driving while suspended would be submitted to the prosecutor’s office.

In the first case involving the drug charges, Gibson is facing preliminary charges of:

• Resisting law enforcement using a vehicle, a Level 6 felony,

• Possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony,

• Possession of a controlled substance, a Class A misdemeanor,

• Possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor,

• Possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor, and

• Driving while suspended – a knowing violation with a prior conviction within 10 years, a Class A misdemeanor

He was booked into the Greene County Jail at 12:05 p.m. Saturday and was being held without bond pending his appearance in Greene Superior Court for an initial hearing.

In the second case, Gibson is facing a preliminary charge of driving while suspended – a knowing violation with a prior conviction within 10 years, a Class A misdemeanor.

In that case, a summons has been issued ordering Gibson to appear in court in mid-March for an initial hearing.