(La Porte, IN) - A La Porte woman has been accused of having methamphetamine and other illegal drugs located in her vehicle during a traffic stop.

 

Dawn Vitale, 49, was arrested last night for Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of a Controlled Substance.

 

According to La Porte County Police, Vitale was pulled over on Pine Lake Avenue near Wardner Street because her SUV's license plate light was not working.

 

During the traffic stop, police said, an officer found reason to have a K-9 dog conduct a free air sniff of the vehicle. The dog “Simba” then noticed the presence of drugs, which were inside a fabric bag on the floorboard behind the center console of the 2016 Buick. Just over three grams of methamphetamine and 50 pills containing acetaminophen and oxycodone hydrochloride were recovered from the bag.

 

Vitale allegedly did not have a current prescription for the pills.

 

She is being held in the La Porte County Jail on $755 bond. Both charges could bring her as much as a 40-month prison sentence.