Driver and his passenger arrested on dealing meth following a traffic stop in Seymour

SEYMOUR – A North Vernon man and a Scottsburg woman are facing drug dealing charges after a Seymour Police officer stopped their vehicle for a traffic violation and discovered over 22 grams of methamphetamine in their car.

Jason Michael Owens, 50, of North Vernon, and Jennifer Reene Wagner, 46, of Scottsburg, were arrested and incarcerated in the Jackson County Jail around 10 p.m. on Tuesday, December 17. Both have been charged with dealing methamphetamine.

The incident began when Seymour Police Officer Dakota Burke patrolled Kasting Road on the city’s west side. He observed a vehicle with a passenger’s head dropping towards the floorboard and noticed that the vehicle’s license plate was not illuminated, which was a traffic violation. Officer Burke initiated a traffic stop.

Upon approaching the vehicle, Officer Burke found Owens was driving on a suspended license and had an active warrant for his arrest in St. Joseph County. Wagner, the passenger, was also found to have a suspended license. With neither occupant holding a valid driver’s license, Officer Burke called for a tow truck.

During an inventory search of the vehicle, Officer Burke discovered a baggie containing crystal methamphetamine on the passenger side floorboard. Both Owens and Wagner denied the drugs were theirs. Police found a similar baggie under the passenger seat and additional crystal meth on the floorboard.

Sgt. Crystal Schapson arrived at the scene and began speaking separately with Wagner. According to the court probable cause affidavit, Owens told Officer Burke that when the emergency lights were activated, Wagner had attempted to conceal the narcotics by stuffing them in her pants. She couldn’t hide all of it. so allegedly placed some of the drugs under the seat.

While in the rear of the patrol vehicle, Sgt. Schapson asked Wagner if she was hiding any additional narcotics. Wagner admitted to having more meth concealed in her body and retrieved it, handing it directly to the officer in an evidence bag.

Police say the three baggies of methamphetamine weighed 22.7 grams.

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