COLUMBUS, Ind. (WTHR) — Greenwood High School's varsity golf coach has been arrested on felony drug charges.
Indiana State Police and the Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team arrested two suspects during a drug investigation in Columbus.
Troopers pulled over 37-year-old Benjamin L. Beatty Tuesday May 1 for a traffic stop on State Road 46 at Carr Hill Road in Columbus. Beatty, the golf coach at Greenwood High School resisted arrest, then officers detained him at the scene.
Troopers found an ounce of what they believed to be meth, heroin and drug paraphernalia.
Officers arrested Beatty and took him to the Bartholomew County Jail. After receiving search warrants for Beatty's Columbus home and a Motel 6 room he had rented, officers searched the areas and found more meth, heroin, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and packaging material.
Officers also found counterfeit money.
Beatty is facing felony charges on dealing meth, dealing heroin, possession of meth, possession of heroin, possession of a syringe, counterfeiting. He is also facing a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Officers also arrested 33-year-old Jared K. Elsner on felony charges of possession of heroin, possession of a syringe, and a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Troopers pulled over Elsner on State Road 46 at Johnson Boulevard in Columbus earlier that day, and a K-9 officer sniffed out illegal drugs in his car.
Both Beatty and Elsner are in the Bartholomew county jail awaiting initial court appearances.
Greenwood Superintendent Dr. Kent DeKoninck found out about Beatty's arrest Wednesday, May 2.
According to a statement from the school district, Beatty only serves as middle school and high school boys' golf coach, and in no other positions.
"Procedures have started to terminate his employment. He has had no contact with students since Dr. DeKoninck received notification of the charges being filed.
Based upon information received to this point, all conduct by Mr. Beatty leading to the charges are not connected with any Greenwood Community Schools students."