Five arrested on drug charges in New Albany park

NEW ALBANY — Five people arrested in a New Albany park Friday on drug charges or outstanding warrants were awaiting initial hearings and formal charges in Floyd County Monday.

Just before 1 p.m., officers with the Indiana State Police All Crimes Policing unit were patrolling the area near Anderson Park on Hildreth Street when they saw what they believed to be suspicious activity between a person talking with the driver of a gray Pontiac Trans Am, according to a news release.

When one trooper approached the car, the driver pulled away and the other person headed toward a nearby recreational vehicle. Police made a stop on the car, found to be driven by Depauw man Nicholas Freiberger, 34. Further investigation with assistance from other officers and a K9 unit revealed methamphetamine and other drugs, along with a loaded handgun, for which the driver did not have a permit.

Police then got a warrant to search the motorhome, in which Depauw woman Tabatha Boaz, 33 and New Albany residents Ethan Haycraft, 28, Candice Sexton, 31 and Richard Napier, 28, were allegedly found with drugs and paraphernalia.

All five suspects were arrested and booked into Floyd County jail on either new drug charges or outstanding warrants; Freiberger, Haycraft, Napier and Boaz also have other pending cases or convictions related to drugs in Southern Indiana.

ISP Sgt. Carey Huls commended the trooper who initially spotted and further investigated what he believed to be suspicious activity.

"He was in the right place at the right time and was alert and happened to see behavior that didn't look quite right," Huls said in an interview. "That's what the [All Crimes Policing] squad is there for — they're out looking for drugs and drug activity."

Freiberger faces preliminary charges of possession of meth, a level five felony and possession of a handgun without a permit. Haycraft and Sexton both face preliminary charges of possession of meth, possession of a syringe and possession of heroin, all level 6 felonies; a level 5 felony for dealing heroin and a class A misdemeanor for possession of paraphernalia.

Haycraft also had outstanding warrants for battery, a class B misdemeanor and possession of a syringe, a level 6 felony. Sexton had two outstanding warrants for theft, class A misdemeanors.

Napier was arrested on a charge of maintaining a common nuisance, a level 6 felony and an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in a class A misdemeanor theft case.

Boaz was arrested on charges of a level 6 felony for possession of meth and class A misdemeanor for possession of paraphernalia.

Huls added that any member of the public who sees something suspicious can report tips, including anonymously, at 1-800-872-6743.

"We're more than happy to take any information they have," Huls said.