Traffic stop leads to felony drug charges

Just before 7 Monday morning, Trooper Clay Boley of the Indiana State Police Sellersburg Post - All Crimes Policing Team, made a traffic stop on a silver Toyota Highlander for operating with an expired registration near the 11 mile marker of I-265 eastbound.  During his initial contact with the driver, Trooper Boley noticed indicators of criminal activity and learned the driver did not have a valid license.  The driver was later identified as 37-year-old Billy D. Chapman Jr., from Paducah, Kentucky.

As the traffic stop continued, Trooper Boley discovered that Chapman had three active felony warrants for vehicle theft.  Two warrants were through separate counties in Illinois, and one was through Ohio.  Chapman was detained and Trooper Justin Geltmaker arrived on scene with K9 Rando to assist.  Rando gave a positive alert on the Toyota for the presence of narcotics, and the officers conducted a search.  The search revealed approximately 16 grams of suspected methamphetamine, a large number of plastic bags, vacuum sealing equipment, a digital scale, and suspected drug paraphernalia.

Billy Chapman was arrested and transported to the Clark County Jail without further incident. He is preliminarily charged with:

• Dealing in Methamphetamine Over 10 Grams – Level 2 Felony
• Possession of Methamphetamine Over 10 Grams – Level 4 Felony
• Possession of Paraphernalia – Class C Misdemeanor
• Operating a Vehicle Having Never Received a License – Class C Misdemeanor
• Three felony warrants for vehicle theft through Ohio and Illinois