Drug Arrest Leads to Location of Homemade Explosive

The discovery came during a stop of a male suspected of operating a vehicle with a suspended driver's license

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(North Vernon, Ind.) - North Vernon Police made an interesting discovery this week. 

On Monday, August 31, officers encountered and spoke with a male suspected of operating a vehicle with a suspended driver's license. During the encounter, officers detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

Officers allegedly located marijuana in the vehicle during an initial probable cause search, and the male was placed under arrest. Officers later located methamphetamine and a homemade explosive device in the vehicle. 

Officers immediately secured the area and closed nearby roadways as a precaution to ensure the safety of the public. The Indiana State Police and Columbus Police Department Bomb Squad responded to the scene and safely disposed of the device. 

David Axsom of Columbus, Indiana was arrested and booked into the Jennings County Jail on the following preliminary charges:

• Prohibited Possession of a Handgun (A-Mis)
• Possession of Marijuana (A-Mis)
• Possession of Methamphetamine (L6 Felony)
• Possession of a Destructive Device (L6 Felony)
• Trafficking into a Penal Facility (L5 Felony)

Officers applied for and were granted a search warrant for David Axsom’s residence in Columbus, Indiana. The North Vernon Police Department, in partnership with the Columbus Police Department, executed the warrant. During the search, officers located materials used in the manufacture of explosives, along with methamphetamine, marijuana, and multiple items of drug paraphernalia.

The search warrant resulted in three additional arrests by the Columbus Police Department.

All charges are preliminary and suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.