Traffic stop leads to methamphetamine trafficking charge

ALBION — The keen eye of a Kendallville Police Department sergeant.

The keen nose of a Noble County Sheriff’s Department dog.

It all happened early Sunday morning and has led to mounting legal problems for a Kendallville man.

Arthur W. Stacy, 47, of the 200 block of South Orchard Street, was arrested at 12:39 a.m. Sunday and booked into the Noble County Jail on a charge of trafficking in methamphetamine, a Level 2 felony, after a traffic stop led to the alleged discovery of more than 35 grams of methamphetamine.

A Level 2 felony carries a sentence, if convicted, of 10 to 30 years in prison, with an advisory sentence of 17 1/2 years.

At an initial hearing Monday, Noble Superior Court Judge Steven Clouse set Stacy’s bail at $50,000. Clouse denied Stacy’s request to have the public defender’s office appointed to represent him. A hearing on Stacey’s status in hiring a lawyer has been set for July 22.

In an unrelated case, Stacy was charged on Sept. 11, 2023, in Noble Circuit Court with possession of 28 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Level 3 felony. He posted $10,000 bail in that case and was released on Sept. 12, according to online court records.

A Level 3 felony carries a sentence of three to 16 years in prison if convicted, with an advisory sentence of nine years.

On Monday, Noble County Prosecutor Jim Mowery filed a motion to have Stacy’s bail revoked in the September case.

According to the affidavit filed in the latest case, Kendallville Police Department Sergeant Dakota Dellahan was on routine patrol when he noticed Stacy driving a Ford F150. Dellahan knew Stacy’s driver’s license was suspended and initiated a traffic stop.

Informed that his driver’s license had been suspended, Stacy allegedly told Dellahan that he had gone to McDonald’s for lunch before returning home. Stacy allegedly admitted that his vehicle was not insured.

Dellahn requested a tow truck to respond to the traffic stop. Dellahan also requested assistance from Noble County Sheriff’s Deputy Tyler Smoker and his K9 partner. The police dog reportedly alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics in the vehicle.

During a search of the vehicle, police allegedly found a white crystalline substance inside seven individual clear bags. The total weight of the substance, which tested positive for methamphetamine, was 35.81 grams. A scale that tested positive for methamphetamine was reportedly found among Stacy’s belongings.

Police also reportedly found a 12-gauge shotgun under the back seat of the van.