Plymouth Police make 3 drug-related arrests during weekend traffic stops

The Plymouth Police Department reported a busy weekend, making three separate drug-related arrests following routine traffic stops from Friday afternoon through Sunday evening.

The series of arrests began on Friday afternoon, April 10, when Officer Wallace initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of U.S. 31 and Veterans Parkway due to a speeding violation. During the stop, officers determined the driver, 26-year-old Shadrach S. Hill of Elkhart, was operating the vehicle with a suspended license. After detecting a strong odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle, a search was conducted, yielding suspected paraphernalia. Hill reportedly admitted to smoking marijuana about an hour before the stop. He was transported to the Marshall County Jail and booked for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, possession of marijuana, and driving while suspended with a prior conviction.

The following morning, Saturday, April 11, at approximately 10:25 a.m., Corporal Ben McIntyre conducted a traffic stop for moving violations. During the investigation, officers located suspected marijuana and methamphetamine paraphernalia. The driver, 57-year-old Richard Hensley of Plymouth, reportedly resisted law enforcement's efforts to arrest him. Hensley was ultimately taken into custody, transported to the Marshall County Jail, and booked for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.

The weekend concluded with a third arrest on Sunday evening, April 12. Patrolman Thornton stopped a vehicle at Western Avenue and Council Drive after the driver failed to properly stop at a stop sign. While speaking with the driver, identified as 55-year-old Stephen P. Ritter of Rochester, the officer noted a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Following a vehicle search, Ritter was arrested and transported to the Marshall County Jail. He was charged with possession of paraphernalia and held on a $100 cash bond.

Readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is a mere 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.