2 Held On Drug Charges, Officer Threatened

Two Kosciusko County men were arrested Thursday during a drug transaction in which one man allegedly attempted to shoot an undercover police officer.

Carlos Silvestre, 27, of 5464 N. CR 750E, North Webster, is preliminarily charged with dealing cocaine as a Class A felony. Authorities said Silvestre is believed to be a substantial distributor of cocaine in Kosciusko County.

During the undercover transaction, Marco A. Ruiz, 26, of Waco Drive, Syracuse, allegedly tried to shoot one of the officers in the house where the case was unfolding. Officials said Ruiz did not know at the time of the incident that the officer was a member of law enforcement.

Ruiz is preliminarily charged with criminal recklessness, a Class D felony, but charges could be upgraded after a meeting with the Kosciusko County prosecutor, according to a press release. Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine said that Ruiz allegedly pointed a shotgun at the undercover officer, who took the weapon from Ruiz. No shots were fired.

Both men are being held without bond at the Kosciusko County Jail.

The alleged drug deal took place at a North Webster residence, where an adult female also was present. She could face charges as a result of this matter, police said.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Kosciusko County Special Operations Team and the Warsaw Police Department detective division.

Assisting at the scene were officers from the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department and North Webster Police Department.