Habitual offender arrested for dealing, possession

Officers were dispatched Oct. 28 in the 1200 block of North 14th Street for a report of a male overdosing, according to a probable cause affidavit from the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office.

Upon arrival, officers reportedly found a male who was unconscious and appeared to be overdosing. He was identified as Ethan T. Harris, 34. An officer reportedly observed a syringe lying next to him.

The officers reportedly administered Narcan to Harris, after which he was taken to a hospital for treatment.

It was determined that the owner of the property had allowed Harris and another individual to stay in his detached garage. The owner reportedly stated that over the few weeks prior, there had been “increased foot and vehicle traffic” coming from the garage and that he believed Harris was using it to sell drugs.

The woman who was staying with Harris reportedly admitted that they had been using syringes to inject heroin that evening and that she had purchased it a couple days earlier. She also reportedly admitted that the two had been using marijuana together within the last few weeks.

Upon further investigation, officers reportedly found a lockbox in the garage that contained syringes, a rolled marijuana blunt and a grinder with marijuana inside.

Officers also reportedly located a metal container that contained about 4.99 grams of methamphetamine, a vial containing a substance that the woman reportedly identified as ketamine and about 3.4 grams of marijuana. There was also reportedly a white substance that tested positive for heroin and fentanyl and weighed about 4.83 grams.

In a blue tote, officers reportedly found mail and personal identification belonging to Harris as well as plant material suspected to be marijuana weighing about 283 grams and a substance appearing to be powdered marijuana weighing about 378 grams.

In the same tote, officers also reportedly found a package containing what appeared to be psychedelic mushrooms weighing about 226 grams, a jar with THC wax weighing about 143 grams, THC cartridges and pipes with residue.

After being released from the hospital, Harris was taken to jail. He reportedly admitted to staying in the detached garage with the woman and believed he had been using heroin when he overdosed.

He also reportedly admitted that all of the drugs found were his but said that the substance identified as meth was actually MDMA.

Harris is being charged with five felony counts of dealing a controlled substance, two counts of drug possession, dealing marijuana and unlawful possession of a syringe.

He is also being charged with five misdemeanor counts including three counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia.

Harris is also a habitual offender who was convicted for operating while intoxicated and possession of meth in September of 2019, theft in May of 2020, operating while intoxicated in October of 2023 and possession of meth in February of 2024.

As of Wednesday, he is being held at the Tippecanoe County Jail on a $25,000 cash bond, according to the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office.