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PORTAGE — Porter County police grabbed national attention Thursday night after arresting the hip-hop artist Twista on a drug charge shortly before he was to appear at the Big Shots concert venue at 391 W. U.S. 6 in South Haven.

Twista, whose legal name is Carl Terrell Mitchell, 42, of Chicago, was taken into custody at 10:38 p.m. after the eastbound black Rolls-Royce he was riding in was stopped by police just east of Willowcreek Road on U.S. 6 for following an SUV too closely. Marijuana was found inside, according to Chief Deputy Jeff Biggs of the Porter County police.

Cpl. Paul Czupryn smelled raw marijuana during the traffic stop and questioned the driver, Johnnie Euell, 42, of Frankfort, Illinois, who said he was traveling close to the other vehicle because he knew the occupants, police said. He reportedly admitted the group had smoked marijuana shortly before the traffic stop.

Police said they found a half ounce of marijuana hidden in a fake can at a spot in the vehicle that was accessible to all. All four occupants denied ownership of the drug and were taken into custody.

Also arrested were Euell; Michael Moore, 43, of Matteson, Illinois; and Darrin Woody, 26, of Harvey, Illinois, police said. All face a misdemeanor count of possessing marijuana.