Published: July 20, 2009 09:23 pm         

Arrests made for meth-related charges, June 12 traffic pursuit

TERRE HAUTE — The driver and a passenger from a June 12 traffic pursuit by Indiana State Police have been arrested, and three other people associated with the duo also face criminal charges.

Trooper Ty Lightle began the June pursuit near St. Bernice in Vermillion County. According to police reports, the suspect vehicle was occupied by three white males who were wanted on suspicion of stealing anhydrous ammonia from a local farmer. The pursuit ended in a crash on South Sixth Street in West Terre Haute, with all three occupants fleeing on foot.

Acting on a tip and armed with a Vigo County arrest warrant, troopers Jason Fischer, Joe Rutledge, Jeremy Lewis and Brandon Mullen found the suspected driver early Saturday at a residence on U.S. 150 in West Terre Haute.

Shortly after midnight, they arrested James M. McCalister, 33, West Terre Haute, on a warrant for charges of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle and possession of anhydrous with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. Both are class-D felonies. McCalister also was arrested on charges of resisting law enforcement on foot and leaving the scene of a personal injury crash, both class-A misdemeanors.

During his arrest, police said, McCalister was found to be in possession of methamphetamine, a class-D felony, and in possession of paraphernalia, a class-A misdemeanor.

During the warrant service, two other people were arrested.

Daniel J. Little, 41, the owner of the residence, was charged with two counts of assisting a criminal and one count of maintaining a common nuisance, all class-D felonies.

Donald Norman, 45, was charged with one count of visiting a common nuisance, a class-B misdemeanor, and also was arrested on a Vermillion County warrant.

A passenger in the suspect pursuit auto was arrested on July 15.

Scott C. Heckelsberg, 23, West Terre Haute, was arrested by ISP troopers on a Vigo County warrant for one count of resisting law enforcement and one count of possession of anhydrous with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, both class D felonies.

Also on July 15, while trying to locate McCalister, troopers arrested Jeffrey A. Thomas, 35, West Terre Haute, on an unrelated Vigo County warrant for one count of assisting a criminal, a class-D felony.

The search continues for the third passenger in the June pursuit vehicle.

McCalister was arraigned Monday in Vigo Superior Court Division 5, and is set for another court appearance Thursday. He was arrested in April for possession of methamphetamine and receiving stolen auto parts, both class-D felonies, and possession of paraphernalia, a class-A misdemeanor.

Hecklesberg’s next court appearance is Aug. 24. He also faces charges of receiving stolen auto parts and resisting law enforcement from an alleged March 11 incident, as well as three class-D felony charges of illegal possession of anhydrous ammonia, possession of precursors and resisting law enforcement from an alleged July 6 offense.

Anyone with information about this investigation or the third passenger is asked to call the ISP post at Terre Haute at (812) 299-1152.

Lisa Trigg can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or lisa.trigg@tribstar.com.