COLUMBUS, Ind. – A local man, out on bond after being arrested for dealing marijuana in October, was arrested on felony drug-dealing charges on Thursday. The arrest led to a search warrant and recovery of a large amount of currency and drugs at the man’s apartment by the Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team.
Officers arrested Papa Sylla, 24, of Columbus, as a result of an investigation into drugs being sold at Columbus East High School. The inquiry began after school resource officers received a tip about Sylla using a student to sell marijuana and THC vape cartridges at the school.
The Columbus Police Department (CPD) says a student, allegedly recruited by Sylla to sell drugs at the school, was also arrested by school resource officers.
The CPD SWAT Team served a search warrant on Thursday at Sylla’s residence located at 3244 Sycamore Ct., in Columbus. The search supposedly turned up marijuana, THC vape cartridges, psychedelic mushrooms, cocaine, as well as over $20,000 in currency inside the apartment.
Sylla was taken to Bartholomew County Jail with a 48-hour hold and booked for possession of cocaine, dealing cocaine, possession of marijuana, dealing marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, dealing a controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia, and maintaining a common nuisance.
The investigation into the sale of illegal drugs in Columbus and Bartholomew County continues and additional charges are possible, according to law enforcement.
