Staff Report

Robin Michelle Smith

Donald Ralph Barton II

WARSAW — Two people are facing criminal charges after fleeing from and providing false information to law enforcement.

Robin Michelle Smith, 37, 1305 N. Warner Road, Syracuse, is charged with assisting a criminal, a level 6 felony; and false informing, a class B misdemeanor.

Donald Ralph Barton II, 32, 3819 W. 200N, Warsaw, is charged with possession of methamphetamine and resisting law enforcement, both level 6 felonies; resisting law enforcement, a class A misdemeanor; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor.

On Sept. 29, 2021, an Indiana State trooper was traveling on CR 775E when he noticed a passing vehicle’s muffler was deteriorated and loud. The trooper pulled the vehicle over; four occupants were in the vehicle.

When asked for names, a woman in the backseat identified herself as Smith and a man in the backseat said what the trooper thought was “Ben Smith.” According to court documents, when the trooper asked for clarification, Smith said the man had said “Eddie Smith.” Smith then provided the trooper with the man’s birthdate.

The trooper knew Eddie Smith and his age, and that the man in the backseat was not Eddie Smith and did not appear to be the age of the birthdate provided.

Based upon the nervous behavior of the vehicle’s occupants, the trooper requested additional assistance at the scene.

When more officers arrived, the man in the backseat, later identified as Barton, fled on foot from the vehicle while holding a bag. The trooper gave chase and took Barton into custody.

A K9 unit at the scene alerted to illegal drugs in the vehicle.

Smith told the officers Barton’s name and said he told her to lie for him. Smith said she knew Barton probably had warrants out for his arrest when he asked her to lie for him. Officers discovered Barton had two active felony arrest warrants at the time.

Upon searching the bag Barton had, officers found drug paraphernalia with methamphetamine residue.

Barton has two previous convictions for resisting law enforcement.

Smith was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Feb. 11, with a $5,250 surety and cash bond. Barton has a pretrial conference at 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28.