According to information from Ripley County Prosecutor Ric Hertel, felony charges have been filed and over $50,000 worth of drugs have been taken off the streets following a traffic stop on I-74.
A 2008 Chevy with Georgia plates was stopped on July 2 by Indiana State Police Trooper James Wells, after he received a report of a stolen car. When Trooper Wells made the stop, he found much more than a stolen vehicle. During the search, the officer located more than 2000 pills in the trunk. Initial testing showed the pills were Ecstasy (MDMA), a Schedule I Controlled Substance.

Prosecutor Hertel noted that “this volume and street value exceeds any previous drug busts over the past 10 years.” Charges of Receiving Stolen Property, Class D Felony, and Dealing Controlled Substances, Class B Felony, have been filed by the prosecutor against Akeel Dimetri Reid, who was the driver of the vehicle.

Other charges are pending after a search warrant for the remainder of the vehicle revealed additional pills and a loaded 9mm handgun hidden in compartments within the vehicle.

An initial hearing took place Monday, July 7, with a trial date set for December 2, 2008. Bail was set at $1 million.

A Class D Felony carries up to three years imprisonment and a B Felony can earn the perpetrator up to 20 years behind bars.

In a press release it was noted that Reid is innocent until proven guilty as is the case when any charge is filed.