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Last updated on Monday, May 14, 2012
(BLOOMFIELD) - A Bloomington man facing a methamphetamine charge and several out-of-county warrants was ordered held on $5,000 cash bond in Greene Circuit Court Thursday morning.
Nick Schneider, of the Greene County Daily World, reports Paul Sipes, 49, was formally charged with possession of methamphetamine - a class D felony - and resisting law enforcement - a class A misdemeanor - during his initial hearing conducted by video link from the Greene County Jail.
An Oct. 3, pre-trial conference was set with a jury trial scheduled for 9 a.m. on Oct. 23.
The court appointed Greene County Public Defender Alan Baughman to represent Sipes in further court proceedings.
Greene County Prosecutor Jarrod Holtsclaw recommended a $5,000 cash bond because Sipes has past convictions for methamphetamine possession, possession of controlled substance, resisting law enforcement dating back to 2002.
In addition, Holtsclaw pointed out that the defendant has pending criminal cases in Monroe County for dealing methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and domestic battery. He is also wanted on an outstanding warrant from Monroe County for a home detention violation.
Judge Erik Allen affirmed the prosecutor's recommendation and set bail at $5,000 cash only.
Sipes' arrest came early Tuesday morning, after Greene County Sheriff's Department Deputy Bobby Pierce noticed a Chervrolet pickup on State Road 445. In the back of the truck were several large items sticking out of the truck bed.
Pierce said because of a large number of metal thefts the area, he decided to do a computer check of the truck's license plate number. The plate came back belonging to a 1999 Dodge Durango and not the vehicle that Sipes was a passenger.
Deputy Pierce activated his emergency lights to signal a traffic stop just inside Lawrence Hollow Subdivision. The pickup stopped and Sipes, carrying a small dark colored bag, allegedly bolted out of the truck and ran east towards a nearby woods.
Deputy Pierce chased Sipes and the suspect tripped over a brush pile, but kept running. He finally fell again and Pierce was able to gain control of him and placed him under arrest.
Pierce noted in the probable cause affidavit that the bag that Sipes has been holding was not on his person when he was caught. However, later the bag was located with the assistance of GCSD Deputy Jeremy Inman about 50 feet inside the woods.
Inside the bag, officers found three small plastic sandwich bags that contained a white powdered substance.
Also in the confiscated bag was a spoon with burnt reside on the bottom and a white substance on the top, a metal smoking device, a glass smoking device, a hypodermic needle, two digital scales and a flashlight.
The white powder substances all field tested positive as methamphetamine, according to the probable cause affidavit.
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