County Police arrest Warsaw man on multiple charges including meth

County police arrested an erratic Warsaw driver Wednesday morning, July 31st. 

At 8:20 a.m. the Marshall County Central Dispatch Center received a report of an erratic driver in a gold Dodge minivan that was traveling east on U.S. 30 near U.S. 31   

Marshall County 1st/Sgt. Nick Laffoon was on patrol in the area and located the vehicle. The officer followed the vehicle a short distance to the Pilot Travel Center and contacted the driver, Matthew W. Hellums, 36, of Warsaw and the only occupant.

During this time officers from the Marshall County Police Department and the Indiana State Police arrived to assist. While speaking with Hellums and after field sobriety tests, probable cause was found that he was under the influence of a controlled substance. A subsequent probable cause search of the vehicle yielded syringes, suspected methamphetamine, and suspected fentanyl. A later search of Indiana court records found that Hellums had also been arrested in both Tipton and Noble Counties in July of 2024 for separate other drug-related charges.

Matthew Hellums was booked into the Marshall County Jail on initial criminal charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a narcotic drug, and possession of a hypodermic syringe all level 6 felonies and operating while intoxicated - endangering a class A misdemeanor. He was held on a $5,000 cash bond.

Readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is merely an allegation that a crime has been committed and that there is only probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. They are presumed innocent throughout the proceedings and are entitled to be represented by counsel and entitled to a trial by jury at which the State is obligated to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt before a judgment of guilt may be made.