Florida couple nabbed for drugs in Putnam County

An observant Indiana State Master Trooper and drugs combined for a recipe that landed a Florida couple behind bars in the Putnam County Jail briefly.

According to police and court documents, Christopher Joseph Twyman, North Palm Beach, Fla., and  Marie-Gabrielle Porter were recently arrested on a slew of drug charges in Putnam County following a traffic stop. Court records state the two bonded out of jail after paying a $10,000 cash bond, and they are set to return to court in the new year for a hearing. 

Indiana State Master Trooper Ryan Winters initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Twyman west of Cloverdale after noticing a bicycle and bicycle rack covering up the license plate. As he approached the vehicle, Winters notes Twyman rolled down the window and an "overwhelming odor of marijuana" could be smelled coming out of the vehicle. Twyman told police he had consumed marijuana earlier that day and that there was none in the vehicle. 

Porter told Winters the two left Florida earlier this year and were traveling across the country, and were headed to Michigan at the time of the stop. Meanwhile, Twyman told police he had  66 previous charges for dealing in marijuana in Florida. 

During a search of the vehicle, Winters found several jars containing “green plant material that had the odor of marijuana.” In addition, a search turned up several other empty containers with a marijuana smell and several purple glass pipes with burnt residue. 

Police also located a powdery, brownish substance, which was discovered as DMT, which is a Schedule I hallucinogenic found in plants. Porter told police a friend had given the powder to her. Winters also located 145 mason jars and containers, which contained mushrooms that were "portioned out," as well as more containers of marijuana. According to court documents, the mushrooms weighed about 100 pounds and had a street value of $23,000. 

The two were arrested and charged with the following: Dealing in marijuana with the possible intent to deliver 30 grams to 10 pounds of marijuana, a Level 6 felony; a Class A misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana with a prior conviction; a Class C misdemeanor of possession of paraphernalia/introducing a controlled substance into the body.