Julia Lashay Watkins, 29, of Gary, is facing multiple felony charges in Lake County after police say methamphetamine and other narcotics were discovered on her body following a traffic stop in Hobart.
According to court records, the investigation began around 3:42 p.m. on Feb. 12, 2026, when officers observed a silver Chevrolet HHR weaving through northbound traffic on Mississippi Street and making unsafe lane changes before turning onto 61st Avenue near the Marcella Boulevard roundabout. Police said the vehicle failed to immediately stop for emergency lights and sirens, eventually pulling into a gas station parking lot in the 4400 block of West 61st Avenue.
Officers made contact with Watkins, who apologized for her driving and told police she and a passenger were returning from Lansing, Illinois. She reportedly said she was a recovering drug user scheduled to enter rehabilitation the following day.
A K-9 unit conducted an exterior sniff of the vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics. During a search, officers located a glass pipe with burnt residue hidden behind a loose plastic panel near the passenger-side floorboard, along with a hypodermic needle near the center console. Both items were seized as drug paraphernalia.
Police said a subsequent search of Watkins revealed a plastic bag concealed on her body containing several smaller baggies of suspected narcotics. After being advised of her rights, Watkins allegedly admitted the bag contained methamphetamine and said it weighed less than an ounce.
Authorities reported recovering approximately 35.7 grams of methamphetamine divided into three baggies. The larger bag also contained about 1.5 grams of a substance that tested positive for cocaine base and roughly 1.7 grams of a substance that tested positive for fentanyl.
According to the affidavit, Watkins admitted to both using and selling drugs to a friend. Officers also reported finding a large amount of cash, primarily in $20 bills, which they said is consistent with narcotics transactions. Court documents indicate she was on probation in Porter County at the time of the stop.
Watkins has been charged with Dealing Methamphetamine (Level 2 felony), Possession of Methamphetamine (Level 3 felony), Possession of a Narcotic Drug (Level 6 felony), Possession of Cocaine (Level 6 felony), and Possession of Paraphernalia (Misdemeanor).