A Decatur County couple is facing multiple drug offenses after a year long investigation by police.
Michael Lawles and Tammy Lawles were arrested after a search of their home in the Westport area revealed marijuana and other drugs, police say.
The investigation was launched in 2012 when detectives from the Greensburg Police Department observed higher than normal purchasing patterns of cold medication containing pseudoephedrine by Michael Lawles.
Then in September of this year, Decatur County Sheriff Greg Allen contacted Greensburg Police with information that Lawles may have been in engaged in dealing marijuana from their home on State Road 3.
According to Greensburg Police Chief Stacey Chasteen, shortly after receiving the information, detectives received additional information that Michaels wife, Tammy was working at a local eatery in Greensburg, and allegedly distributing methamphetamines while on the job.
Westport Police received numerous tips about high volume traffic coming and going from the Lawles residence, as well as leads on who may have been purchasing marijuana from the home.
Police in Greensburg and Westport began working a joint investigation, and as a result of the intelligence collected, a search warrant was issued.
On Thursday, officers executed the warrant at the Lawles home.
“With the assistance of Westport Police Department canine Keno, over 470 grams of marijuana was located inside the residence,” Chasteen said.
“The marijuana was packaged consistently in the manner in which marijuana is shipped by Mexican drug trafficking organizations to the United States. Additional evidence located indicates that the multiple bricks of marijuana were being broken down into smaller quantities for distribution/ sale from the Lawles residence,” Chasteen added.
Michael Lawles was charged with possession of methamphetamines (class B felony) and dealing in marijuana (class C felony).
Tammy Lawles was charged with possession of a controlled substances (class C felony) and dealing in marijuana.
