A routine traffic stop in Austin earlier this month resulted in numerous drug charges being filed against David Jacob Johnson, 37, of the 15600 block of South 300 W, Columbus in Bartholomew County. Over a pound of methamphetamine was located in Johnson’s van, police said.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Austin Police officer Joshua Vires pulled Johnson over around 6:11 p.m. Oct. 2 for a minor traffic offense.
Johnson told the officer that he did not have a wallet or a license and had been in trouble for driving previously. When asked for his registration he began looking under the driver’s seat of the black van. Vires advised that usually registrations are kept in a vehicle glove box. The probable cause document read that Johnson looked inside the glove box where he found his wallet and license.
As he handed the officer his license he said, “Look man, I just don’t want to go to jail.”
After APD officer David White arrived to assist, it was learned from Scott County Sheriff’s Dispatch that Johnson’s license was suspended for a prior traffic violation.
Vires placed Johnson in his police car and asked if there was anything illegal inside his vehicle. Johnson told the officer that here was some marijuana in the center console. While officer White retrieved the marijuana he also located a rubber container with a white crystal-like substance along with a glass smoking pipe and white powdery residue along with a plastic bag containing small plastic baggies used to pack and distribute illegal drugs, the court document read.
Vires observed that as he was talking with Johnson, Johnson continued to watch Officer White looking in the Johnson’s van. “Through my training and experience, this is indicative of the presence of illegal activity or items in the vehicle,” the officer wrote.
Johnson frequently asked Vires if his significant other could come pick up the vehicle.
“This led me to believe that there were still illegal items in the vehicle that had not yet be located,” Vires wrote in the court document.
After continuing to ask if there was anything else in the vehicle, Johnson eventually guided officers to the middle row seat where a black and silver lock box was located. Providing officers with access to the lockbox, police located a clear plastic bag containing over a pound of methamphetamine.
According to the probable cause affidavit, officers heard Johnson say “I’m going to jail.”
Johnson was booked into Scott County Jail at 7:05 p.m. where he faces felony charges of dealing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, and maintaining a common nuisance along with misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while suspended with a prior conviction.
On Oct. 4, Judge Jason Mount set Johnson’s bond at $100,000. As of the Times press deadline he remains incarcerated.