COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), at around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, conducted a traffic stop on a Jeep with no license plate that led to two arrests. The deputy said he believed the driver, Justin Poole, Justin Poole, 33 of Scipio, and the passenger, Martin Cox, 38, of Elizabethtown, seemed nervous.
While standing at the vehicle, the officer said he thought he saw catalytic converters and tools commonly used in the theft of vehicle catalytic converters inside the Jeep.
After a BCSO K-9 officer gave a positive alert for narcotics, the Jeep was searched. A firearm, syringe, cutting tools, and catalytic converters were allegedly found inside. Law enforcement says it determined the items were stolen from a local business just prior to the pullover. Both men were taken into custody.
Poole was charged with carrying a handgun without a license, unlawful possession of a syringe, and four counts of theft. Cox was booked for unlawful possession of a syringe, and four theft counts.
“Thefts of catalytic converters have been an ongoing problem recently in both the city and county. We are working to aggressively put an end to this problem,” said Sheriff Matt Myers.
