The exterior of the Bartholomew County Jail in Columbus is shown.
COLUMBUS, Ind. — Three people have been arrested after a long-term drug trafficking investigation by the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team.
Arrested were Justin Bowles, 41, Columbus, Erik Peetz II, 31, Columbus and Kelsa Burton, 26, Columbus, said Sgt. Dane Duke, Bartholomew County Sheriff Department spokesman.
The investigation began when Bartholomew County Correctional Officers reported a suspicious incident while transporting inmates to the courthouse for court hearings. Through the investigation, it is alleged that Burton under the direction of Peetz placed suboxone on the courthouse grounds, which Bowles retrieved in order to transport the narcotics back to the Bartholomew County Jail, Duke said. At the time Peetz and Bowles were inmates at the Bartholomew County Jail.
Arrest warrants were served on both Peetz and Bowles who are still incarcerated at the Bartholomew County Jail on the following charges:
–Justin Bowles: Conspiracy to commit dealing in a schedule III controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.
–Erik Peetz II: Conspiracy to commit dealing in a schedule III controlled substance
Kelsa Burton was arrested for a warrant on the following charges: Dealing in a schedule III controlled substance, conspiracy to commit dealing in a schedule III controlled substance, trafficking with an inmate outside a facility and possession of a controlled substance.
“Attempted drug trafficking into the jail is a severe offense, not only because of the criminal charges but also because it endangers the safety and order of the facility. These cases will be thoroughly and aggressively investigated to prevent any future attempts,” said Sheriff Chris Lane.
The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office, is proactively targeting and monitoring those who seek to traffic illegal narcotics into correctional facilities.
