Follow-up leads to Jennings County drug, theft arrests

NORTH VERNON, Ind. - The Jennings County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) went to the North Vernon Wal-Mart on September 21 to follow up on a fraud case. Upon arrival, a deputy noticed a Wal-Mart Asset Protection (AP) officer was trying to stop someone in the parking lot.

He spoke with the AP Officer, who told him that a male had supposedly just walked out of the store with a cart full of stolen goods. Together, they stopped the man before he could load any possible stolen product into his vehicle.

James Parker, of Dupont, and his girlfriend, Ashley Rippey, who was in the car, were detained for further investigation. It was determined that Parker had about $600 worth of apparent stolen goods in his shopping cart.

JCSO also developed reasonable suspicion that the pair was partaking in illegal drug activity. After K9 Creed sniffed the vehicle, the deputy searched it and allegedly found Methamphetamine, a syringe, Fentanyl, and several drug-related items.

The suspects were placed under arrest and transported to the Jennings County Jail.

Parker was charged with:

• Possession of Meth (Level 6 Felony)
• Possession of a Syringe (Level 6 Felony)
• Theft Class 9 (Class A Misdemeanor)
• Possession of Paraphernalia (Class C Misdemeanor)

Ashley Rippey was booked for:

• Trafficking into a Penal Facility (Level 5 Felony)
• Possession of Meth (Level 6 Felony)
• Possession of Narcotics (Level 6 Felony)
• Possession of a Syringe (Level 6 Felony)
• Criminal Trespassing (Class A Misdemeanor)