Troopers Find 33.5 Grams of Suspected Meth, Arrest Two in Dubois County

Indiana State Police troopers who stopped to help a car stuck in the snow near Birdseye discovered a substantial quantity of suspected methamphetamine and arrested two occupants. The seizure and subsequent charges underscore law enforcement’s role in intercepting drug activity on rural roadways and the public-safety implications for Dubois County communities.

Trooper Kayla Denk-Mundy and Trooper Nathan Teusch were on State Road 64 when they "discovered a silver 2013 Kia stuck in the snow" and made contact with the vehicle’s occupants, the Indiana State Police said. During the encounter officers "recognized indicators of possible criminal activity" and called a Dubois County Sheriff’s Office sergeant with a K-9. The K-9 "conducted an open-air sniff around the vehicle and gave a positive alert for the presence of narcotics," the agency reported.

After a search, officers "reported finding a large bag containing approximately 33.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine." The driver, Darlene R. Jacobsen, 48, of Jasper, "displayed signs of impairment" and was taken to Deaconess Memorial Medical Center in Jasper "for a chemical test" before being transported to the Dubois County Jail. The passenger, Darrel R. Harris, 35, of Huntingburg, was also arrested and booked into the county jail.

Indiana State Police listed preliminary charges for Harris that include Dealing Methamphetamines - Level 2 Felony; Possession of Methamphetamine - Level 3 Felony; Visiting a Common Nuisance - Class B Misdemeanor; and Possession of Paraphernalia - Class C Misdemeanor. Media summaries indicate Jacobsen was arrested on multiple drug-related charges, though the full, itemized list of her preliminary charges was not available in the material provided by the agency.

This incident is separate from an unrelated traffic stop in southwestern Nebraska on Jan. 30. A Nebraska State Patrol trooper "observed a white 2004 Dodge Durango fail to stop at the stop sign at Highways 34 and 61." There a K-9 "later alerted to the presence of drugs inside the vehicle," and a probable cause search recovered methamphetamine and fentanyl, plus pipes, a broken syringe and tin foil with drug residue. Crystal Castagno, 40, of Arvada, Colorado, and Robert Felix, 42, of McCook, were arrested and charged in Dundy County Court with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and a drug tax stamp violation; Castagno also faces a driving without a license charge and is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 18.

For Dubois County residents the Indiana stop is a reminder that routine patrols and welfare checks can uncover active drug distribution. The discovery of roughly 33.5 grams of suspected meth raises questions for prosecutors and courts about charging, bond and evidence processing; local authorities have not released bond amounts or detailed court dates for the Indiana defendants. Watch for updates from the Dubois County Jail and court records for official charges, arraignments and chemical-test results as the cases move through the system.