Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Five people found by conservation officers Saturday night face charges for possession of marijuana and illegal drugs.
Three Elkhart residents were charged with possession of marijuana, and another faces charges on fleeing arrest but has not yet been apprehended.
The investigation began around 6:30 p.m. Saturday when Indiana Conservation officers Lyle Enyeart and Carl Hepler were patrolling the Tri-County Fish and Wildlife Area on Hoss Hills Road.
The officers looked into three vehicles parked in the area and saw what appeared to be marijuana seeds and paraphernalia in each vehicle. According to the report, the officers determined the suspects were camping on the property, a violation of property regulations.
While checking the area, the two officers found six people walking on a trail between two marshes. One officer confronted the group while the other remained hidden to watch the group with night vision goggles, according to the report.
Officer Hepler reported he could smell marijuana on the suspects when he approached them. During a pat-down of the suspects, Hepler reported he found marijuana and paraphernalia with marijuana residue on it on three of the suspects. One man was also allegedly carrying a cigarette case holding a white powder the officers believed to be a controlled substance.
The suspects were taken back to their vehicles and the officers reportedly conducted a search of the vehicles. All three vehicles allegedly contained marijuana and paraphernalia.
According to the officers' report, two of the suspects were taken to the patrol car and the others were allowed in their own vehicles as protection from the near-30 degree temperature.
Heidee M. Waterson, 19, Elkhart, was charged with possession of paraphernalia and released. James E. Williams, 24, Elkhart, was also charged with possession of paraphernalia and possession of marijuana, and held over in Kosciusko County Jail on an outstanding warrant from Elkhart County for failure to appear. He is being held on $450 bond.
The officers said Williams asked them if he could give his girlfriend a hug before they took him to jail. The officers agreed, realizing the suspects had fully cooperated with them up to that point.
An assisting officer at the scene suddenly yelled that Williams was running away. Officers Greg Church and Enyeart pursued him on foot and attempted to cut Williams off before he reached the road. Williams reportedly fell when he reached the marsh, and the officers were able to handcuff him and take him into custody.
While the two were escorting Williams back to the others, Officer Hepler yelled a warning that another suspect had taken a car and was attempting to escape.
Billy D. Wicker, 37, Ligonier, reportedly drove a vehicle at a high rate of speed toward Enyeart and Church. The officers and Williams got off the roadway in time to avoid being hit.
While Church and Hepler contained the suspects, Enyeart pursued Wicker. Enyeart reported that Wicker lost control of the vehicle and went off the road, crashing into trees, before he fled the scene on foot.
The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department brought their K-9 unit to follow the track of Wicker, but reportedly lost the trail near a house. Officers were forced to call off the search at 2 a.m. Sunday. Charges facing Wicker are pending.
The officers added a charge of resisting/fleeing law enforcement to Williams. Robert L. Mahar, 33, Elkhart, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana. Denalda Mae Waterson, 37, South Bend, was also arrested and charged with possession of marijuana. Both Mahar and Waterson are being held on $450 bond.
