State Police arrest five after drug bust

Five people were arrested this week in Monroe County after detectives with the Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section and Troopers with the ISP Bloomington District A.C.E.S. (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Section) served a search warrant in the 4500 block of Old State Road 37 South in Bloomington. Authorities say that the warrant was obtained after an investigation of alleged drug dealing activities at the home. Information led detectives to believe that 31-year-old Robert Merek, of Bloomington, who was currently on home detention monitoring by the Monroe County Probation Department, was dealing methamphetamine.

Once Indiana State Troopers arrived at the home, Merek allegedly jumped out of a bedroom window and fled. He was caught after a short foot pursuit. Police say a search of the home revealed 35 grams of methamphetamine and a gun. In addition, troopers say they recovered heroin, hypodermic syringes, marijuana, and multiple controlled substance pills.

The residents of the home, Merek and Hayley Sipes, were both arrested on multiple drug related charges. Upon arrival at the jail, Sipes was found by Jail Officers attempting to smuggle multiple narcotic pills into the jail by hiding them in her bra.

The Indiana State Police continued with the investigation and on Wednesday, DES detectives observed multiple suspected drug dealers arrive at the same home. Contact with these suspects resulted in officers locating 28 grams of heroin in the possession of 26-year-old Jerrel Lane, of Detroit, Michigan. Lane was also allegedly in possession of over 200 narcotic pills, which were packaged for sale. In addition, 21-year-old Elijah Bowles, of Martinsville, was found to be in possession of a handgun without a license. Police say that 23-year-old Hali Bales, of Mooresville, who originally gave officers a false name and identifying information, was positively identified and found to be wanted on multiple felony arrest warrants including aggravated battery posing a substantial risk of death and battery by means of a deadly weapon.

ISP say that as Elijah Bowles was being processed at the Monroe County Jail, jail officers found him attempting to smuggle approximately nine grams of methamphetamine into the facility by concealing it in his underwear.

ARRESTED:

Robert Merek, 31 of Bloomington
-Dealing Methamphetamine, Level 2 Felony
-Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 4 Felony
-Maintaining a common nuisance, Level 6 Felony
-Possession of a narcotic drug, Level 6 Felony (four counts)
-Possession of a syringe, Level 6 Felony
-Resisting Law Enforcement, Class A Misdemeanor
-Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor
-Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor

Hayley Sipes, 23 of Bloomington
-Dealing Methamphetamine, Level 2 Felony
-Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 4 Felony
-Maintaining a common nuisance, Level 6 Felony
-Possession of a narcotic drug, Level 6 Felony (four counts)
-Possession of a syringe, Level 6 Felony
-Trafficking with an inmate, Level 5 Felony
-Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor
-Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor

Hali Bales, 23 of Mooresville
-Warrant Morgan Co.
Aggravated Battery Use when the assault poses a substantial risk of death, Level 3 Felony
Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Level 5 Felony
Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon, Level 5 Felony
Criminal Recklessness committed with a deadly weapon, Level 6 Felony
-False Informing, Class A Misdemeanor
-False Identity Statement, Level 6 Felony

Elijah N. Bowles, 21 of Martinsville
-Dealing Methamphetamine, Level 2 Felony
-Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 4 Felony
-Trafficking with an inmate, Level 5 Felony
-Possession of a handgun without a license, Class A Misdemeanor

Jerrel R. Lane, 26 of Detroit, Michigan
-Dealing Heroin, Level 2 Felony
-Possession of heroin, Level 4 Felony
-Dealing a narcotic drug, Level 6 Felony (three counts)
-Possession of a Narcotic drug, level 6 Felony (three counts)
-Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 Felony

The investigation is ongoing.