WOMEN FOUND WITH NEEDLES, BOTTLED URINE IN CAR

PORTER Two LaPorte County woman face drug charges after police said
they found hypodermic needles and a container of "clean" urine in their car.

A Chesterton police officer running drug interdiction about 6 p.m. on
Interstate 94 stopped a car without a lit license plate just east of
the U.S. 20 exit.

The officer said the driver, Krystel Catlin, 27, of LaPorte, was
acting nervously and trembling as she said she and two passengers were
on their way to visit relatives at a Portage Township residence.

While the officer ran their information through a database, a police
dog arrived and detected drugs on the passenger side of the car.

Police performed a pat-down on the trio, but found nothing. In
searching the car, officers found a purse with three used hypodermic
needles and a silver spoon with a burnt white residue on it. Officers
also found another loose hypodermic needle.

Upon further search, officers found a prescription pill bottle with a
rubber band around the top and a liquid inside. Police said a
passenger, Stephanie Fisher, 30, of Michigan City, said the bottle
contained "clean" urine she was saving so her boyfriend could pass a
drug test.

Police said the women admitted the needles were theirs and were
arrested, while their passenger was released from the scene.

Both women face charges for alleged possession of hypodermic needles,
while Catlin faces additional paraphernalia possession and driving
while suspended charges.