Former Purdue and NBA player Caleb Swanigan was arrested in Indiana in December 2020 after police reported finding about 1.5 kg of marijuana, drug-use paraphernalia and a large sum of cash in his car.[1] He was arrested early on 23 December 2020 in northern Indiana after a traffic stop.[2] Columbia City Police Department officers took him into custody and booked him into Whitley County Jail at 3:05 a.m. on a misdemeanor marijuana-possession charge.[2] On 17 May 2021 he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor possession of marijuana in Whitley Superior Court.[3] Judge Douglas Fahl gave him a 180-day suspended sentence with two days credited as time served under a plea agreement, so he avoided jail time.[3]
Police found 3.4 pounds of marijuana, about 1.54 kg, in three grocery-store plastic bags and a glass jar inside his vehicle.[2] Officers also found drug paraphernalia and seized $3,415 in cash at the scene.[2] He was ordered to pay $735 in fines and court costs.[3]
The investigation began around 2 a.m. on U.S. 30 when an officer saw his Toyota SUV travelling well below the 60 mph limit and failing to signal.[2] Two other men were in the car, but Swanigan told the officer the marijuana was all his and for his personal use.[3] For the remaining 178 days of the suspended term he could not violate laws or drink alcohol and had to avoid illegal drugs including marijuana, with random drug and alcohol screenings.[3] He had to complete the Whitley Superior Court Alcohol and Drug Program and a substance-abuse evaluation, and was barred from CBD products that could affect urine tests.[3] The judge said he was concerned about the large amount but accepted the plea because Swanigan was a first-time offender.[4] Drafted 26th overall in 2017 by Portland after two Purdue seasons, he had played for the Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings and was a free agent at the time.[3]
