Search Warrant Leads to Drugs, Guns and Seven Charges

Less than two weeks after a White County man was charged in connection with a side-by-side crash that left an injured passenger and a one-month-old infant behind, he is now facing a separate series of felony drug and weapons charges following the execution of a search warrant.

According to a warrant filed Friday, investigators recovered multiple illegal drugs, firearms, ammunition and drug paraphernalia during the search, resulting in seven new charges, including possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and several felony drug offenses.

The defendant, Keith Lee Brown, was arrested after detectives and members of the Special Operations Response Team executed a search warrant at his Jordan Road residence on July 31. According to the affidavit detectives and members of the Special Operations Response Team executed a search warrant at Brown's residence on Jordan Road on July 31. After clearing the home, investigators located Brown in a bathroom with a digital scale.

Investigators reported finding a locked safe behind the front door to which Brown provided them with a key. Inside, officers recovered approximately 11 firearms along with a large quantity of ammunition. Additional ammunition was reportedly found in a kitchen drawer along wth multiple pill containers.

Investigators reported finding suspected methamphetamine, fentanyl and crack cocaine throughout the residence, along with marijuana, prescription medications, digital scales with residue and other items they believe were used in the distribution of narcotics. According to the affidavit, the seizure included approximately 2.5 grams of a substance that field-tested positive for fentanyl and methamphetamine, about 2 grams of suspected methamphetamine and approximately 5 grams of suspected crack cocaine.

Brown was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, manufacture, delivery, sale or possession of methamphetamine, manufacture, delivery, sale or possession of Schedule II fentanyl, manufacture, delivery, sale or possession of Schedule II crack cocaine, manufacture, delivery, sale or possession of Schedule IV, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession without a prescription.

The new charges come just 11 days after Brown was arrested following a side-by-side crash in White County. In that case, investigators alleged Brown left the scene after the vehicle overturned, leaving behind an injured female passenger and her one-month-old infant. Authorities also alleged Brown attempted to persuade the child's mother to falsely identify herself as the driver when speaking with investigators.

Brown was previously charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving bodily injury, coercion or persuasion of a witness, child abuse and neglect, and failure to immediately report an accident.

Read our previous coverage of that case here.