When a Linton woman who allegedly ran a stop sign was pulled over, a K9 alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle. She was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine.

Tara Kaye Helton, 48, Linton, was arrested on Friday, December 20, by Officer John Agan of the Linton Police Department and booked into the Greene County Jail around 11:30 p.m.

Officer Agan initiated a traffic stop around 10:40 p.m. on a silver Ford Escape for allegedly failing to stop for a stop sign at the intersection of C Street SE and South Main Street in Linton.

Helton was the driver.

As Officer Agan was conducting the stop, LPD Officer Joe Riley arrived to assist and Riley’s K9 partner Kona conducted a free air sniff around the vehicle. The K9 alerted to the presence of a controlled substance.

Officer Agan reported that during the subsequent search of the vehicle, he found a glass smoking device in the glove compartment that contained a white crystal-like substance that field-tested positive as methamphetamine. He also found a handbag on the passenger seat that contained two glass smoking devices, a round plastic container that contained a white crystal-like substance and a plastic zip baggie containing a white crystal-like substance. Officer Agan reported those substances also field-tested positive as methamphetamine.

Helton was advised of her rights and declined to talk to the officer.

During an initial hearing in Greene Superior Court on Monday, December 23, Helton was charged with possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony, and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor. Her bond was set at $4,500 surety with ten percent cash allowed.