Shawn Douglas Elder

Attempting to sell a substance disguised as an illegal drug is a crime and it landed a Warsaw man in jail.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department Drug Task Force officers, along with a K9 unit of the Warsaw Police Department, arrested Shawn Douglas Elder, 19, this morning after he attempted to sell undercover officers a look-a-like drug.

At approximately 10:18 a.m. today Elder was arrested on a preliminary charge of felony dealing in a look-a-like substance.

Deputies recently began an investigation and established an undercover purchase with Elder this morning. Elder presented his product as morphine and was taken into custody shortly afterward when it was confirmed that the product was not morphine. Indiana law stipulates that the intent to sell a substance under the disguise as an illegal drug is a criminal offense.

Elder’s bond was transported to the Kosciusko County Jail and currently has a bond set at $5,000.

The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department Drug Task Force was also assisted by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office.