Elizabethtown man arrested on heroin charges near church

Bryce Conner Love; photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Dept.

An Elizabethtown man was arrested Monday night on drug charges. Judy Jackson, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman, says that at about 7:18 p.m., Deputy Leah Burton responded to Bethel Baptist Church on West Deaver Road on a report of a suspicious person and vehicle. When the deputy arrived and approached the vehicle, she reported seeing the driver, 22-year-old Bryce Conner Love, slumped over in the driver’s seat with a straw in his right hand and a lighter in his left.

Authorities say that Love’s breathing was slowed and he was sweating profusely. When Deputy Burton woke Love, he denied being under the influence. In the passenger’s seat, the deputy reported seeing aluminum foil with burn marks. Jackson says that Deputy Matt Bush and K9 Diesel arrived to assist when the dog was alerted to narcotics inside the vehicle. After exiting the car, Love allegedly admitted that heroin had been in the aluminum foil.

Love was taken to Columbus Regional Health to be checked out. Once he was released, Love was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Heroin and Possession of Paraphernalia. Jackson says that he is being held on $60,000 bond.