CLOVERDALE -  A California man was arrested  on drug charges following a traffic stop this morning on Interstate 70 in Putnam County.

Joshua Gomez, 21, San Diego, was booked into the Putnam County Jail and charged with dealing heroin -Level 2 F-felony and possession of heroin - Level 3 felony

Indiana State Police Sgt. Matt Ames explained that a trooper had stopped the gold Chevrolet Equinox in Cloverdale, near the 41 mile marker,  for a traffic violation of allegedly following too close and soon noticed possible criminal activity.

"Gomez was transporting approximately 6.2 pounds of heroin concealed in the vehicle. The estimated street value of the heroin is $225,000 and was being transported from California to Ohio," Ames said.

The trooper observed  criminal indicators while speaking with the suspect  during the traffic stop, around 10:30 a.m.  

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office arrived to assist at the scene with a K-9 and gave an alert to the officers of an of an illegal substance.  

VERMILLION COUNTY - A Clinton man was arrested after police say he was driving under the influence of drugs in Vermillion County near the sheriff's office  yesterday afternoon.

Paul K. Baxendale IV, 21, was taken into custody after failing a series of field sobriety tests. He was transported to a nearby hospital for lab work and subsequently booked into the Vermillion County Jail, where he is charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance.

According to the Vermillion County Sheriff's Office,  officers found a foil package containing  heroin and fentanyl, two syringes and other paraphernalia during a search of the suspect's vehicle.

Officers began receiving reports that a reckless driver was traveling southbound on SR 63 from the Newport caution light around 12:30 p.m.. The suspect was allegedly crossing the center line nearly striking other vehicles by of the sheriff's office.

Deputy Nick Hall located the 2013 Green Dodge Dart with a black racing stripe a short time later and reportedly observed the vehicle cross the center line multiple times before stopping the suspect, according to the Vermillion County Sheriff's Office. Deputy Chad Akers assisted at the scene.