Driver Charged After Stolen Gun Found

Melvin Earls, 58, of Indianapolis, faces four charges after deputies recovered a stolen handgun during a traffic stop on Interstate 65. The arrest followed a report of erratic driving that nearly ended in a collision with commercial traffic.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office dispatched units to the highway near the Taylorsville Rest Area just before 7:30 p.m. on Monday. A caller reported that a gray Dodge Ram pickup was weaving across lanes and repeatedly changing speed. The caller noted the vehicle nearly struck a semitrailer. Deputies located the truck south of Exit 64, where it continued to drift within its lane.

Officers pulled the vehicle over near the State Road 58 exit. During the stop, Earls informed deputies that his driver’s license was suspended. The officers stated they detected the odor of marijuana inside the cab. This prompted a search of the vehicle’s interior.

A records check revealed that Earls holds a felony conviction. Deputies discovered a handgun stored in a compartment within the truck. The firearm had been reported stolen in Indianapolis. Earls was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for a blood draw before being moved to the county jail.

He is currently held on suspicion of operating while intoxicated with a prior conviction, driving while suspended with a prior conviction, unlawful possession of a firearm, and theft of a firearm. Authorities placed Earls on a 48-hour hold while they prepared formal charges. The investigation remains ongoing.