During an initial hearing yesterday for one man accused of driving while under the influence of marijuana, the court recommended his driver’s license be immediately suspended. Another man is facing charges of marijuana and paraphernalia possession.

Michael Wade Myers, 54, Bloomfield, and Ryan Jay Gilbert, 30, Jasonville, were arrested by Indiana State Police Trooper Richard Klun during a traffic stop on Wednesday, May 12.

Trooper Klun conducted a traffic stop at US 231/State Road 54 and Seminary Street in Bloomfield on a white 2008 Pontiac G6 passenger car with only one functioning headlight.

Michael Myers was the driver with one passenger in the front seat and one in the back. Ryan Gilbert was the back seat passenger.

When Trooper Klun approached the driver’s side, he immediately detected an overwhelming odor of marijuana coming from the car and requested additional officers. Lt. Marvin Holt of the Bloomfield Police Department and ISP Troopers Curtis Wilder and Ben Burris responded.

Myers was found to be in possession of two bags of marijuana and a glass smoking device on his person and he allegedly said all of the marijuana on his person and in the vehicle belonged to him.

When the vehicle was searched, officers located additional marijuana, burnt marijuana cigarettes and other paraphernalia.

When Trooper Klun talked to Myers, he reported Myers admitted he had smoked marijuana about two hours earlier and that it was powerful. Myers allegedly said, “That’s some powerful s___, you don’t smoke that and drive.” He said he was the only one smoking and that nobody else in the car had been smoking.

Myers was placed under arrest. He refused to consent to a blood draw. A search warrant was approved and a blood draw was taken after Myers was transported to the sheriff’s department – results pending.

The front seat passenger denied smoking any marijuana and when asked about the marijuana and items of paraphernalia found in the vehicle, he allegedly said Gilbert had been smoking and identified some items of paraphernalia as belonging to Gilbert. This passenger was released.

When Gilbert was questioned about items found near him, he said he didn’t know anything and he became upset with what the front seat passenger said. When asked to give a DNA sample to compare with DNA on a smoking device, Gilbert allegedly started cussing and said he was not going to give the trooper anything.

Gilbert was booked into the Greene County Jail at 11:12 p.m. on May 12. Myers was booked in at 12:24 a.m. on May 13.

Gilbert’s bond was set at $1,500 surety with ten percent cash allowed. He posted $150, was released on May 13 and given a court date for an initial hearing. He is facing preliminary charges of possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.

Myers’s bond was set at $5,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. He has since posted $500 and been released.

When Myers appeared in Greene Superior Court for his initial hearing yesterday afternoon, May 24, he was charged with operating a vehicle with a controlled substance in his blood, a Class C misdemeanor, possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor. A public defender was appointed to represent him and the court recommended immediate suspension of his driving privileges.