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Trial begins for fire captain accused of removing drug evidence for relative

SHERIDAN, Ind. (WISH) – A captain with the Sheridan Fire Department is due in court Tuesday, for allegedly destroying evidence for a family member.

37-year-old Travis Stern of Sheridan was arrested for obstruction of justice and official misconduct in the case.

He is accused of removing narcotics and paraphernalia from the vehicle belonging to a person that he is related to.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said Stern responded to a crash involving 37-year-old Joshua Stoops, also of Sheridan, on Jan. 31. The crash occurred on State Road 38 at Six Points Road near Sheridan just before 5 p.m.

Stoops stated he thought he fell asleep. His vehicle left the roadway and hit a utility pole, according to a witness.

An informant came forward stating that Stern removed narcotic evidence from the vehicle.