A Lyons woman was in court last week facing a felony after a vial of meth was found in her purse during a search. She allegedly said she had no clue where it came from.

Michelle Lynn Jerrell, 36, Lyons, has been charged with possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony. She was booked into the Greene County Jail in late June after a warrant was issued for her arrest. Last week, she was in court for her initial hearing. Jerrell was charged as a result of an investigation by Indiana State Police Trooper Richard Klun.

Jerrell was one of two passengers in a vehicle that was stopped for speeding in mid-May, east of Bloomfield on State Road 54. The driver said they were in a hurry to get to work on time and she was aware she was going over the posted speed limit. The driver got a warning but since she was on probation, she was asked to consent to a search of her vehicle. She agreed and said there was nothing illegal in the car. One passenger said the only item he had in the car was a lunch pail and Jerrell said the only item she had in the car was her purse.

Trooper Klun reported that during a search of the car and the lunch pail, he did not find any items of interest but inside Jerrell’s purse, he found a small glass vial that contained a crystal substance that later tested positive as methamphetamine.

Jerrell allegedly said she had no clue where the container came from or how it ended up in her purse.

The driver and both passengers were released from the scene but information was submitted to the prosecutor’s office. A criminal case was filed against Jerrell and the warrant issued.

During her hearing last week, Jerrell’s bond was set at $4,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. She has since posted $400 and been released from jail.