A busted tail light and expired license plate alerted officers to initiate a traffic stop that resulted in the June 22 arrest of a 33-year-old Worthington man for possession of methamphetamine. 

Linton Police Department Officer Mitchell Eberhardt arrested Ethan Cole Abrell on a charge of possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 Felony. 

On June 22, Eberhardt observed a blue Dodge Durango pull out in front of him at a gas station. The vehicle’s license plate bore an expiration date in 2021 and its driver’s side tail light was busted, emitting white from the rear of the vehicle. When Eberhardt initiated a traffic stop, according to the probable cause affidavit, he saw Abrell raise his arm as if he was throwing something into the back of the vehicle. 

Linton Police Department Officer Janzen Franklin arrived on the scene as Eberhardt approached the driver’s side window and asked for Abrell’s license. He asked if there was anything in the vehicle officers needed to know about, Abrell alleged he did not think so. Abrell then consented to a search of his vehicle. 

During the search, Eberhardt located a small glass container on the floor underneath the driver’s seat. Upon opening the back driver’s side door, according to the probable cause affidavit, he shined his flashlight on the glass which showed a white crystal-like substance inside. According to his training, Eberhardt wrote he believed the substance to be methamphetamine. Inside the front console, Eberhardt located a small plastic bag containing a white crystal-like substance that later field-tested positive for methamphetamine. 

When asked if he had anything on his person if a search were performed, Abrell allegedly told officers he had a green metal tube in his front pocket. According to the probable cause affidavit, he said he wasn’t sure what was in it, but it was a white powder. The substance in the green tube later field-tested positive for methamphetamine.

Abrell was transported to Greene County Jail where he was initially held without bond; however, at his initial hearing on June 27 in Greene Superior Court, a bond of $4,000 surety with 10% cash allowed was set. He was later released from the Greene County Jail after posting $400.