COLUMBUS, Ind. -- Four Columbus residents are facing various felony charges related to drug dealing following the overdose of a man earlier this month.
On May 16, officers with the Columbus Police Department were dispatched to a home on Cleveland Street in response to a drug overdose, with a man being transported to an area hospital for medical treatment.
This prompted an investigation spearheaded by the department's Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team. Investigators then turned their attention to a Columbus home they believed was being used to store and distribute methamphetamine and other narcotics.
After a search warrant was obtained, investigators reportedly found over 50 grams of methamphetamine alongside additional evidence including digital scales, syringes and other drug paraphernalia.
This led to the subsequent arrest of 37-year-old Jessica Comstock, 19-year-old Dustin Harden, 20-year-old Chase Barnhart and 35-year-old Keith Cherry. CPD said Cherry was not at the residence while officers executed the search warrant but was apprehended on May 30 in the 5200 block of S. Pine Street on an arrest warrant for his alleged role in the drug scheme.
Comstock was arrested and preliminarily charged with:
- Dealing in methamphetamine, a level 2 felony
- Possession of methamphetamine, a level 3 felony
- Maintaining a common nuisance, a level 6 felony
- Neglect of a dependent, a level 6 felony
- Possession of a syringe, a level 6 felony
- Possession of paraphernalia, misdemeanor
Harden was arrested and preliminarily charged with:
- Maintaining a common nuisance, a level 6 felony
- Possession of a narcotic drug, a level 6 felony
Cherry was arrested and preliminarily charged with:
- Dealing in methamphetamine, a level 2 felony
- Maintaining a common nuisance, a level 6 felony.
Meanwhile, Barnhart's only charge was visiting a common nuisance, which is classified as a misdemeanor charge.