Large amount of drugs found after traffic stop, chase in Marion

MARION, Ind. – An early morning traffic stop in Marion led to a chase and ended with a large amount of drugs off the street.

On July 6, just after 2:30am, Marion police officers tried to stop a car on South Washington Street. Officers said the car initially pulled off to the side of the road, but then the driver took off speeding.

Police said the suspect, now identified as 37-year-old Courtney Johnson, went east on 30th Street to Lincoln Boulevard, where they said he ran a person riding a moped off the road.

Police explained Johnson continued to speed, eventually crashing into a tree near Tri-County Storage on East 54th Street. Johnson took off from the wrecked car and ran about 60 yards from the crash site. That’s when a Grant County Sheriff’s Department K9 found him. Johnson was taken into custody without incident.

Marion PD said they found drugs in Johnson’s car, including 590 grams of meth, 113 grams of fentanyl and some marijuana.

Johnson faces two felony charges of dealing drugs, a felony of resisting law enforcement and criminal recklessness.

In a news release, Marion PD said Johnson had a suspended license and was on parole for serious violent felon in possession of a handgun. He was taken to the Grant County Jail.

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