Expired license plate leads to meth lab discovery

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - An expired license plate led to three people sitting behind bars in Lafayette this week.

According to Indiana State Police (ISP), troopers conducted a traffic stop at roughly 9:30 p.m. March 4 at Shenandoah Drive near State Road 26 (SR 26).

ISP troopers had pulled over a red sedan for its expired license plate and after noticing a strong chemical odor, discovered an active meth lab inside the car.

The driver of the car, 38-year-old Valorie L. Smith of Lafayette, and the two passengers, 35-year-old Casey M. Lee and 33-year-old Heather N. Wales (both of Lafayette), were arrested and booked into the Tippecanoe County Jail.

Lee was charged with manufacturing meth and possession of methamphetamine.

Smith was charged with manufacturing meth, maintaining a common nuisance and possession of methamphetamine.

Wales was charged with manufacturing meth, possession of meth and maintaining a common nuisance.

ISP wants to remind drivers that each and every traffic stop is important.

“Routine traffic stops are not routine anymore,” ISP Sgt. Kim Riley said. “Many traffic violators who receive a ticket will make the comment to the officer that they should be out catching drug dealers or bank robbers. Criminals use vehicles to get around so an officer never knows who or what is in the vehicle until they walk up to the window.”