Docs: Search of near west side home leads to seizure of drugs

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis man was arrested on Wednesday after a search by police of a home on the near west side of Indianapolis led to the discovery of multiple grams of drugs.

According to court documents filed on Friday in Marion County, 29-year-old Justin Owens was charged with:

• Possession of a narcotic drug, between 10-28 grams, enhancing circumstance, a Level 3 felony
• One count of possession of methamphetamine, <5 grams, enhancing circumstance, a Level 5 felony
• One count of dealing in marijuana, possession with intent, between 30g and 10 pounds, a Level 6 felony
• One count of obstruction of justice, a Level 6 felony

On Wednesday, detectives with the southwest district of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, as well as the department’s SWAT team, conducted a search of a home in the 500 block of N Sheffield Avenue.

As the law enforcement officials searched the home, the court documents state that one of the officers saw a man, later identified as Owens, throw a knotted plastic bag “containing a hard white substance” into the toilet “in an attempt to destroy it.”

That baggie, containing a substance that police allege was fentanyl, weighed around 10 grams, according to police. Owens also reportedly had a gun on him.

As officers searched the rest of the home, the documents state that they reportedly found other baggies containing suspected fentanyl, as well as pills containing methamphetamine as well as marijuana. Drug paraphernalia, four guns and multiple magazines and ammunition were also reportedly found inside the home.

Officers reportedly interviewed Owns on scene, who told officers that he lived in the home. Owens reportedly told officers that he did not have a job, to which the officers asked how he could afford to pay rent without a job.

“(At this point), Owens thought for several seconds about the answer, and then stopped answering questions,” the documents said.

The court documents state that the Marion County court set Owens’ bond at $20,000, 10% cash. Owens’ initial hearing is scheduled for Monday.