Mitchell man arrested after police find syringe and marijuana in a van

MITCHELL – A Mitchell man was arrested Thursday afternoon when Mitchell Police officers responded to a domestic fight in the 1200 block of Elm Park. The caller reported a man and woman were arguing in a blue minivan and the woman was beating on the dashboard.

When police arrived they found a blue Town Chrysler van with a male and female inside.

Kenneth Chenault

As an officer walked to the vehicle, 25-year-old Kenneth Chenault exited the van and spoke to one of the officers while another officer spoke to the female inside the vehicle.

Inside the vehicle, the officer detected the odor of marijuana. 

During a search of the vehicle, the officer found a syringe in the driver’s door storage area. The syringe tested positive for meth. Chenault was detained. He then told officers where they could find a baggy that contained marijuana. Also located in the van were multiple grinders with marijuana inside them and a black smoking device in the glove box. In total, officers located 13 grams of marijuana.

Chenault said the syringe belonged to his father who is a diabetic. When asked why it tested positive for meth, he replied he didn’t know.

The vehicle was towed by Stone City due to a large amount of what appeared to be commercial copper and fiber optic wire inside.

Chenault was arrested on charges of possession of meth, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and unlawful possession of a syringe. The female was released from the scene.

If you know something, say something. Send an email to drugactivity@lawrencecounty.in.gov or call Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office tip line at 812-545-4700. All calls are confidential.