Staff Report

WARSAW — A Warsaw man is facing multiple charges after drugs were found during a traffic stop.

Christian Hernandez Rodriguez, 31, 3699 N. 175E, No. 146, Warsaw, is facing charges of battery on a public safety official, a Level 5 felony; resisting law enforcement, a Level 6 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony; resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor; possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor; and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor.

Christian Hernandez Rodriguez

According to a probable cause affidavit, on Sunday, Jan. 16, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s deputy was patrolling near Argonne Road in Warsaw.

He saw a light-colored truck at the intersection of North Parker Street and East Center Street in the right-hand lane. While passing through the intersection, the deputy saw the driver try to hide his face as the deputy passed him.

The deputy pulled into a parking lot off East Center Street and saw the vehicle travel westbound on East Main Street. The deputy followed the vehicle, a 2001 silver Chevrolet S-10 truck. He observed the driver disregard a stop sign and fail to signal a turn southbound onto North McKinley Street.

The deputy then made a traffic stop,  and the driver said he was Christian Hernandez but didn’t have his license.

The deputy noted that Hernandez Rodriguez was moving around a lot and talking nervously. The deputy requested that a Warsaw Police officer with a K-9 come out to the scene.

Hernandez Rodriguez agreed to be patted down for weapons, and police discovered a baggie containing marijuana, which weighed approximately 3.4 grams.

Hernandez Rodriguez was put in hand restraints, and officers then found a glass pipe under the driver’s seat and a plastic bag containing approximately 1.8 grams of meth on the ground where he had been standing.

Hernandez Rodriguez agreed to talk with the officers. He said he smoked methamphetamine about two hours prior to driving.

Another deputy observed Hernandez Rodriguez had bloodshot eyes and rapid speech. He then declined to take a field sobriety test.

One of the deputies obtained a search warrant for an involuntary blood draw, and Hernandez Rodriguez was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital. During the drive, he repeatedly said he wasn’t going to give a blood sample and then tried to walk away from the officers after arriving.

One of the deputies tried to gain control of him and he began to pull away. He kicked one deputy in the shin, court paperwork said.

Hernandez Rodriguez began to pull away from a deputy and Warsaw police officer inside the hospital. He then stiffened his arms and dropped his body down, pinning one of the officers’ arms and twisting it.

Hernandez Rodriguez was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on Jan. 16 on a $5,250 surety and cash bond.