A traffic stop Saturday in Fountain County led to the arrest of three people.
Just before 9:30 p.m., Indiana State Trooper Brandon Howell was patrolling the area of Interstate 74 near the 23-mile marker. Howell stopped a 2011 Subaru Outback for an equipment violation. The driver was identified as Roger Fiebrantz, 71, from Rockford, Illinois.
While speaking with Fiebrantz, Howell smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. He conducted a search of the Subaru and its occupants. During the search, Howell located suspected methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
During Howell’s investigation, he developed information that led him to believe that Fiebrantz was operating a vehicle under the influence. Fiebrantz and the two other occupants of the Subaru were transported to Fountain County Jail.
Fiebrantz was arrested on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated - endangerment, a class A misdemeanor, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a class C misdemeanor.
His passengers, Michael Venegoni, 55, Overland, Missouri, and Shelly Morgan, 45, Granite City, Illinois, also were arrested. Venegoni is facing charges of possession of methamphetamine, a level 4 felony, and possession of marijuana, a class B misdemeanor. Morgan is facing charges of possession of methamphetamine, a level 4 felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor.
Howell was assisted on the scene by the Fountain County Sheriff’s Office and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
