Greensburg — Three Greensburg residents were arrested Jan. 26 in a drug bust conducted by the Indiana State Police (ISP) with assistance from the Decatur County Sheriff's Department (DCSD).

According to affidavits of probable cause filed in the Decatur Superior Court, Brian C. Byrd, 30, of 2002 North Tulip Court was arrested and formally charged with maintaining a common nuisance, neglect of a dependent and possession of a controlled substance. All three charges are class D felonies. Byrd was also charged with possession of hash oil and possession of paraphernalia, both of which are class A misdemeanors.

Byrd's wife, 26-year-old Diane L. Byrd, also of 2002 North Tulip Court, was arrested as well and charged with the same five counts as her husband.

Additionally, Melissa A. White, 25, of 1321 North Ingleton Drive, Apt. A, was arrested and charged with possession of hypodermic needles. That charge is a class D felony. White was also arrested on a pair of misdemeanor charges: Taking a minor to a common nuisance (class A) and visiting a common nuisance (class B).

A police report concerning the case details that ISP officers arrived at the Byrd's residence at about 11:20 a.m. Jan. 26 following a call from a citizen alleging possible drug use and methamphetamine manufacturing at the Byrd's home.

Upon arrival, ISP officers met with Brian Byrd and questioned him about the allegations. Byrd allegedly denied the manufacture of methamphetamine but aroused officer suspicion in his non-disclosure pertaining to the drug use allegation. Law enforcement also took note of the presence of two minors (described in the report as "babies") and an adult female.

During the conversation with Brian Byrd, the accused presented a pipe containing "plant material and burnt residue" to officers which Byrd had taken from a bedroom closet. An officer's search of the closet resulted in the discovery of a plastic shopping bag alleged to contain drug paraphernalia and pill bottles. Upon this discovery, the report alleges Byrd to have declared, "You got me," to the officers.

Law enforcement subsequently spoke with Diane Byrd and Melissa White, querying Byrd as to whether or not she smoked marijuana. Byrd stated she had done so the night before.

Officers asked White permission to search her purse, did so, and found nothing.

During the interview with accused, White asked to be excused from the conversation to use the restroom. Officers allowed White to visit the restroom but grew suspicious when White bypassed an available bathroom on her way to the master bedroom's bathroom.

Officers later investigated a washing machine in the master bedroom and found a purse containing various documents with White's name on them as well as multiple packages of hypodermic syringes. Some of the syringes contained residue.

Also found in the washing machine was an apron containing a wooden spoon bearing burnt residue. Officers showed the items to White, then asked her if she had been injecting illegal drugs.

White denied the charges, but the police report mentions that an examination of White's arm revealed a "track mark." She allegedly then admitted to the use of Roxycotins. She also stated the needles had belonged to her deceased father.

A DCSD deputy as well as two members of the Department of Family and Children were called to the residence by ISP officers. An additional search of the premises revealed a syringe officers believed could have been accessible to children within the home.

White and the Byrds were arrested by DCSD deputies and transported to the Decatur County Jail. Responders from the Department of Family and Children took temporary custody of the two minors at the residence. Brian Byrd told police that another child was at school when officers arrived at the Byrd residence.

A single blue pill discovered to be Alprazolam 1mg, a Schedule IV Controlled Substance, was also found at the Byrd's home inside a pill bottle. The name on the bottle was not that of any of the three accused in this case.

Charging information notes that White is alleged to have brought a nine-month-old to the Byrd's residence, while being aware that drug use had taken place at the home.

Charging information pertaining to the Byrds states that the two placed children Ñ aged 4 and 9 Ñ "in a situation that endangers the dependent's life or health" by keeping illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia in the home, in addition to the use of such items.

All three of the accused appeared in Decatur County Superior Court Monday, and each entered a separate plea of not guilty.

The Byrds and White were ordered to appear at separate pre-trial conferences and omnibus dates the morning of March 7. A jury trial for all three suspects begins at 8:30 a.m. May 3.

Bond for the Byrds was set at $1,500 cash. Both remain in the custody of the Decatur County Jail.

White is free after posting bail of $1,000 cash.



Contact: Brent Brown 812-663-3111 x7056