COLUMBUS, Ind. — Four people were busted on a variety of drug charges after a collaborative investigative effort between the Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET), the Columbus Police Department Intelligence Led Policing Unit, and the patrol divisions of the Columbus Police Department (CPD) and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO).
The investigation began when CPD received numerous tips and complaints about the criminal narcotics activities taking place at the home in the 1400 block of Lafayette Avenue. Shelby E. Mitchner, 52, of Columbus, was placed under arrest for possession of methamphetamine following a traffic stop on Monday night near the house in question.
Later Monday night, JNET obtained a warrant for the Lafayette Avenue residence to search and seize possible evidence relating to violations of Indiana Controlled Substance laws. SWAT members, made up of CPD officers and BCSO deputies, were activated to serve the search warrant.
Just prior to presenting the warrant, a traffic stop was initiated after investigators saw a vehicle leave the Lafayette Avenue home, per authorities. Kimberly D. Callahan, 40, of Columbus, was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and possession of a controlled substance.
In the early morning hours of August 2, SWAT executed the search warrant at the residence and took Larry G. Bergeron, 69, and Vanessa E. Cowan, 52, both of Columbus into custody.
JNET allegedly found meth in the kitchen, living room, and two of the bedrooms. Fentanyl was supposedly located in one of the bedrooms, along with multiple items of drug paraphernalia throughout the residence, per CPD.
Larry Bergeron, Vanessa Cowan, and Shelby Mitchner are currently incarcerated at the Bartholomew County Jail (BCJ) on multiple drug-related charges pending formal charges that will be determined by the Bartholomew County Prosecutor. There is a potential for charges against additional suspects in this investigation, according to law enforcement.
Kimberly Callahan. Courtesy – CPD.
Shelby Mitchner. Courtesy – CPD.
Larry Bergeron. Courtesy – CPD.
Vanessa Cowan. Courtesy – CPD.
