Citizen vigilance leads to Soldiers Grove drug bust

The Crawford County Sheriff’s Department K-9 unit was involved in a drug bust Monday morning, Aug. 21.

Deputy Joe Breeser and K-9 Breck were patrolling in the village of Soldiers Grove early in the morning when Breeser observed a vehicle running at the village park, where several citizen reports have said drug activity was possibly happening.

Upon seeing the K-9 unit, the driver traveled to a residence within the village, exited the vehicle and entered the home, according to the sheriff’s department. A second deputy arrived in the village and the deputies observed a male, later identified as Jeremey Phinney, 39, of Readstown, walk to the home where the driver of the suspicious vehicle had entered. Phinney was inside the residence for a few minutes and then left.

The deputies made contact with Phinney and found he was on active probation for delivery of methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine. A search of Phinney was conducted and he was found to be in possession of several grams of methamphetamine. Phinney was arrested and later transported to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department.

The Vernon County Sheriff’s Department assisted at the scene.