Two men drove into Greene County, visited a residence in Linton, then were arrested by a Jasonville Police officer after they were stopped for a license plate issue.

James Bryan Gray, 19, of Fairbanks, and Phillip Ross Gordon, 31, of Sullivan, appeared in Greene Superior Court for initial hearings this week. They were arrested by Officer Jake Gambill of the Jasonville Police Department late Tuesday, November 12.

Officer Gambill was on patrol that Tuesday night when he conducted a random license plate check on a blue 2002 Ford Focus headed west on State Road 48. The plate belonged to a Ford Escort and wasn’t valid plus the owner of that vehicle had a suspended license. The car was pulled over near SR 48 and Private Road 550.

Officer Gambill reported the expiration sticker was for a different plate. The driver allegedly claimed he had just bought the car and the previous owner told him the plate and insurance were good.

Gray was identified as the driver. Gordon was a back seat passenger. Another man was a front seat passenger.

Officer Gambill said he noticed that both Gray and Gordon were nervous and shaky. Gambill requested backup and JPD Officer Andrew Duguay and LPD Officer Joe Riley and his K9 responded to assist on the scene.

When Officer Riley arrived, the K9 was deployed and gave an alert for the presence of illegal substances.

Officer Gambill reported that when the car was searched, officers found a white

crystal substance and two smoking devices with residue which all tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine.

During interviews at the Jasonville Police Department, Officer Gambill was told they drove into Linton so that Gordon could visit a friend and that they were there for approximately 20 minutes.

The front seat passenger was not arrested, but Gray and Gordon were taken into custody and transported to the Greene County Jail where they were booked in around 11:30-11:45 p.m. They were held without bond until they appeared in court this past Tuesday.

During their hearings, Gray was charged with possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony, and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.

Gordon was charged with possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony, and possession of marijuana, a Class C misdemeanor.

Bond for both was set at $4,500 surety with ten percent cash allowed.