Two busted on preliminary drug charges after Saturday night traffic stop

An expired plate on an SUV led to a Saturday night traffic stop in Bloomfield. That led to the arrest of the driver and a passenger, both booked into jail on drug charges.   

Renate Rae Bouher

Renate Rae Bouher, 51, Bloomfield, and Robert Gene Secrest, 47, Lyons, were arrested by Deputy Marshal Jordan Allor of the Bloomfield Police Department late last Saturday night, July 20. Bouher was booked in to the Greene County Jail a little before 11 p.m. and Secrest a little after 11 p.m.

Around 9:20 p.m. that night, Officer Allor initiated a traffic stop in Bloomfield on a blue 2005 GMC Yukon for having a false and expired plate. Bouher was the driver. Secrest was a passenger.

When asked why the plate didn’t match the vehicle, Bouher allegedly said she had owned the vehicle since last November but she got the plates from someone else. She had an Indiana identification card but no driver’s license.

When Officer Allor checked records on both Bouher and Secrest, he learned Bouher’s driver’s license was suspended with a prior conviction for driving while suspended and she’s not eligible for a license. Secrest’s driver’s license was also suspended with a prior conviction for driving while suspended.

When asked if she had insurance on the vehicle, Bouher allegedly said she didn’t have her proof of insurance in the vehicle because her dog tore it up. When Allor later checked with her insurance company, he learned the policy expired back in January.

Bouher was out of the vehicle answering questions when Secrest was asked to step out. When he was asked if he had anything illegal on him, he first said no then said he had marijuana in his pocket. He pulled out a clear bag with green plant material and put it on the hood. Officer Allor said it field-tested positive as marijuana and he then found a smoking device in Secrest’s pocket.

Bouher consented to a search of her vehicle and allegedly admitted she had marijuana in a coin purse in the center console.

Officer Allor reported that during the search, officers did find the coin purse with a material that field-tested positive as marijuana, and a smoking device. Another smoking device was located in a cup holder, another in a dash cubby. Then they found devices commonly used to ingest methamphetamine wrapped in a handkerchief stuffed inside men’s shoes in a bag with jeans labeled with Secrest’s name. A crystal substance that field-tested positive as meth was found inside Secrest’s wallet. Inside a wooden box labeled with Bouher’s initials, they found a bag with crystal residue that also field-tested positive as meth. Inside a bag of women’s clothing, they found another bag containing a crystal substance that field-tested positive as meth – it was tucked inside a sock.

Robert Gene Secrest

Bouher denied knowing about the items that appeared to be hers and Secrest also denied that items that appeared to be his were his.  

Both were booked in and held without bond pending their appearance in court for initial hearings.

Bouher is facing preliminary charges of:

• Possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony,

• Possession of marijuana, a Class A misdemeanor,

• Possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor, and

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

Secrest is facing preliminary charges of:

• Possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony,

• Possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, and

• Possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.

Other officers who assisted on the scene included Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Tom Colvin, Deputy Joshua Gluch, Sgt. Bobby Pierce, Deputy Alan Jackson, and possibly others.