Docs: Chase leads to uncovering of 4+ pounds of drugs in Hamilton County

HAMILTON COUNTY, Ind. — A chase involving the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and the Fishers Police Department earlier this month ended in law enforcement discovering more than four pounds of drugs, as well as a firearm.

According to court documents, filed in Hamilton County earlier this month, Briandre Howard has been charged with:

• Two counts of dealing in methamphetamine, each a Level 2 felony
• Two counts of dealing in cocaine, each a Level 2 felony
• Two counts of possession of methamphetamine, each a Level 3 felony
• Two counts of possession of cocaine, each a Level 3 felony
• One count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a Level 4 felony
• One count of resisting law enforcement where the defendant has a prior, a Level 5 felony
• One count of resisting law enforcement using a vehicle, a Level 6 felony
• Two misdemeanor counts of marijuana possession

On Sept. 13, a deputy with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a blue 2003 Ford Explorer on I-69 South for a traffic violation. During the stop, the deputy reportedly saw signs of criminal activity from the passenger and the driver, later identified as Howard.

After a K-9 was brought to the scene from the department, the deputy reportedly heard yelling from a Fishers police officer on the scene as Howard reportedly drove off from the traffic stop. Howard then led law enforcement on a chase that ended at an apartment complex near Lantern Street.

At the complex, Howard reportedly got the vehicle stuck in a ditch. After the deputy gave “loud commands” for Howard to show his hands, he “(leaped) out of the driver side window of the vehicle holding a gray backpack and multiple greenish bundles of something.”

Howard then continued the chase with law enforcement on foot. The documents said that he was eventually located on the landing of a second-floor building located in the 11500 block of Lantern Road.

After Howard was arrested, they found four saran-wrapped bundles that were located in the gray bag Howard reportedly had with him, as well as a white bundle in the vehicle he was driving. The bundles included more than four pounds of drugs, including:

• 1,765 grams of methamphetamine
• 136 grams of crack cocaine
• Seven grams of marijuana

A firearm was also reportedly located by law enforcement in the vehicle. The documents said that Howard is a “serious violent felon” coming after a conviction in Allen County Court in August 2013.

According to court documents, Howard’s bail is set at $150,000, cash only. Howard’s pretrial hearing is scheduled for Nov. 4 and his jury trial is scheduled for Dec. 16.

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