A Greyhound trip through La Porte County ended in handcuffs Friday after highway interdiction deputies reported finding a backpack stuffed with illegal drugs on board. The passenger, identified by authorities as Artha Jackson, was taken into custody and transported to the La Porte County Jail, where Jackson now faces felony counts for dealing in cocaine and dealing in marijuana and is being held on a $50,000 cash-only bond. The case remains under investigation.
According to a Facebook post from the La Porte County Sheriff's Office, a highway interdiction deputy was pacing an eastbound Greyhound on I‑80/90 near the 58‑mile marker when the coach was allegedly clocked over the speed limit. The deputy pulled the bus over near the 61‑mile marker, and deputies, along with a narcotics-detection K‑9, searched the interior. They reported finding a backpack in an upper storage compartment near the front of the bus. A search of that bag turned up what the post described as "a large amount of illegal drugs," and Jackson was arrested at the scene. The post states that Jackson was booked on March 27 on Level 2 and Level 6 felony counts and remains housed at the La Porte County Jail on a $50,000 cash-only bond. It also notes that arrests are allegations and that suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
How the highway interdiction unit works
The sheriff's office says its Highway Interdiction team, part of the agency's Merit Division, works alongside K‑9 units to spot and disrupt the movement of illegal drugs and weapons along major traffic corridors. On its website, the agency lists Highway Interdiction and K‑9 as specialized divisions that routinely conduct traffic stops and canine-assisted searches of both commercial and passenger vehicles. Those standard tactics line up closely with the stop and search described in Friday's incident on I‑80/90. La Porte County Sheriff's Office
Charges, custody and what comes next
The Facebook post states that Jackson was arrested on March 27 and booked on state counts for dealing in cocaine, a Level 2 felony, and dealing in marijuana, a Level 6 felony. Jackson remains in custody at the La Porte County Jail with bond set at $50,000 cash-only. Prosecutors typically review highway interdiction cases before filing formal charging documents in La Porte County Circuit Court, and the post does not list an arraignment date. Journalists and members of the public seeking the most up-to-date booking information are directed to contact the jail's records division. La Porte County Sheriff's Office
Legal implications
Under Indiana law, a Level 2 felony carries a fixed term of imprisonment between ten and thirty years, while a Level 6 felony carries a fixed term between six months and two-and-a-half years, and fines may also apply. Sentencing is ultimately determined by the courts and may be affected by possible enhancements or prior convictions, as outlined in state code. Indiana Code § 35‑50‑2
Court filings and booking records are expected to provide additional detail as the case moves through La Porte County courts. Updates will follow as public records and court dockets become available.
