Cleveland man charged with meth trafficking following police chase

Paul Hunter (White County Sheriff's Office)

A Cleveland man faces multiple drug charges, including two counts of trafficking methamphetamine. The White County Sheriff’s Office says 42-year-old Paul Hunter was arrested after leading a deputy on a brief chase during an attempted traffic stop.

The alleged incident occurred on Tuesday, May 13.

“During the pursuit, Mr. Hunter threw approximately two and a half ounces of suspected methamphetamine from the vehicle,” a press release from the sheriff’s office states.

On May 14, sheriff’s investigators began looking into Hunter’s alleged drug activities. They executed a search warrant at his residence. The sheriff’s office says investigators found an additional five and a half ounces of methamphetamine, packaging material, drug paraphernalia, and a firearm.

Drugs, cash, a gun and drug paraphernalia investigators say they seized while searching Paul Hunter’s home in Cleveland on May 14, 2025. (White County Sheriff’s Office)

In addition to the meth trafficking charges, investigators charged Hunter with the following:

  • possession of meth with intent to distribute;
  • possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance;
  • possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
  • possession of drug-related objects;
  • abandonment of dangerous drugs;
  • fleeing or attempting to elude;
  • reckless driving;
  • failure to obey a traffic control device;
  • operating an unregistered vehicle;
  • removing or affixing a license plate to conceal the identity of a vehicle.

Investigators booked Hunter into the White County Jail.