Police say southern Indiana man arrested with meth, gun and young child in minivan

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Southern Indiana police said a Greensburg man was arrested on six felony charges during a traffic stop early Sunday morning, after he allegedly pointed a gun at another person.

Officers from the Columbus Police Department made the arrest around 1 a.m. Sunday while responding to reports of a disturbance in the 600 block of Maple Street, according to a news release.

Investigators determined that Jesse J. Sparks, 31, of Greensburg, allegedly pointed a gun at another person before leaving the area in a red minivan.

Officers spotted a red minivan a short time later and stopped the vehicle on 25th Street. Sparks refused to cooperate with officers from the Columbus Police Department and Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, and would not exit the vehicle.

He then pulled away from officers who tried to restrain his arms and began "reaching in the vehicle where the officers could not see." That's when a Taser was used on Sparks, and he was eventually removed from the vehicle and arrested, according to the release.

Officers found a loaded 9mm pistol in the the waistband of Sparks' pants, as well as a "large amount of methamphetamine and US currency" in his clothing. Officers searched the minivan and found a backpack containing additional methamphetamine that appeared to be packaged for sale as well as drug paraphernalia including digital scales.

A young child that was in the back seat of Sparks' vehicle and was removed by law enforcement officers during the incident was left in the care of a family member.

A Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputy who received a minor injury during the altercation was treated at Columbus Regional Hospital.

Sparks is facing the following preliminary charges: