Peru – Recently, a traffic stop by Indiana State Trooper Luke Bowyer led to the arrests of two Indianapolis men on a possession of stolen property charge.

Indiana State Trooper Luke Bowyer initiated a traffic stop on a 2000 Chevrolet Prizm which was allegedly traveling southbound on U.S. 31, near Miami County Road 200 North, at 73 miles per hour in a posted 60 miles per hour zone. While speaking with the Prizm’s driver, Angelo Corralez, 23, Indianapolis, IN, Bowyer noticed indicators of criminal activity and requested a narcotics-detecting police dog. Trooper Daniel Prus and his police dog, Zeke, arrived to assist.

Prus deployed Zeke to conduct a free air sniff around the Chevrolet. Zeke gave a positive alert to the odor of illegal narcotics inside the vehicle. During a subsequent search of the Prizm, officers allegedly found two handguns and approximately $5,000 in a hidden compartment which was constructed in the dashboard where the passenger side airbag is usually located.  One of the handguns had been reported stolen in Marion County, IN. Further investigation revealed that Corralez also allegedly had a handgun on his person and another handgun under the driver’s seat. Corralez and a passenger in the Prizm, Dequan Bird, 19, Indianapolis, IN, were each found with a large amount of U.S. currency on their person. Officers seized over $6,000 and the four handguns during the stop. Forfeiture procedures have been initiated for the Chevrolet Prizm.

Corralez and Bird were both incarcerated in the Miami County Jail on a felony charge for possession of stolen property. Corralez also faces a misdemeanor count for possession of a handgun without a handgun permit.

Troopers Jeremy Perez and Mike Lorona assisted with this investigation

All Hoosiers are encouraged to report suspected illegal drug activity by calling their local law enforcement agency or the Indiana State Police Marijuana Tip Line at 1-888-873-1694.  Reports may be made anonymously.

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.